0.25 ppm Ammonia Reading

Hi All,

I recently Fishless cycled my tank.

Me and my son added a single male betta on Sunday, and everyday since, i have tested for ammonia and its been showing constantly at 0.25ppm.

The test kit i am using is the API master test kit.

I am 110% certain that the tank was fully cycled before i added our fish (who is called 'fishy' by the way, my 4 year old came up with the name!)

Could anybody please advise as to why this is? the level isn't rising, and my tap water reads at 0ppm for ammonia.

Fishy seems very happy in his new home, he does however occasionally swim quite frantically, i don't know if this is just his personality, or whether it's stress.

Thanks in advance,

Jon

Were you adding ammonia when you cycled your tank? Fishy is producing his own and it seems your filter isn't keeping up yet.

hi,
Yes. And my tank could convert 3ppm of ammonia in 24 hours. There is no way my betta is producing anywhere near that.

strange... did you change filter media or add untreated water during a water change before fishy came home? how long after reading 0/0/0 did you wait before adding fishy?

Hi. No did nothing to filters. Treated the water before I did a big water change. And I also waited 3, 24 hours where all ammonia was converted to nitrates.

I would be inclined not to worry here, but test ammonia daily for a few days just to be certain it does not rise. The API test colour card has yellow for 0 and a slightly greenish yellow for .25 and it may be difficult to really see the difference. The light you read the test in also affects the colours; always use daylight but not direct sun if possible. And be sure you do not add too many drops.

Byron.

Hi. Yea, it's not budged for 3 days now. So it's been constant.

Below are the most recent tests of tap water against tank water.

Very slight tint of green on the tank.

Yes, I can see a very slight difference in the colour. I still say not to worry, provided it does not go higher.

Do you have any live plants? They grab ammonia very fast, faster than the bacteria even. Floating plants would be all you need, and they are easier to deal with if that bothers you. And your Betta would love some floating plants, they originate in swamps and ponds and ditches thick with floating plants.

Byron.

I agree with Byron.