Ammonia Level Reading

[charles bentley]

my Ammonia reads at 0.08mg/l, is this dangerous or can it be treated before it gets any worse? PLEASE HELP

these are all my other results

Salt specific gravity 1.025
Temp 26.5 - 27.8
Calcium 600ppm
PH 8.3
Nitrate 0mg/l
Nitrite 0mg/l
Iron non-chelated 0mg/l
Iron chelated 0mg/l
Phosphate 3.5mg/l
KH 130mg/l

 

[TigerIssey]

Going to need some more information

Have you added anything or has anything died etc.
Out of interest what salt are you using and what test kits, that calcium seems high. Phosphates are really high too, are you using RO water or tap water and if tap have you tested tap water.
Is tank FO, FOWLR or reef.

EDIT
Have you double checked tests
What test kits are you using

 

[n3ont3tra]

The most important thing is to know whats causing the ammonia. What size tank do you have, and what fish, and what filtration?

0.08ppm is really not that much to worry about, but if you have any corals they may show symptoms. That said, ammonia should always be zero, so there may be something wrong.

 

[charles bentley]

my tank is 240l
a red sea turbo skimmer
tetra ex 1200 external filter
and a wave maker that turns over 5000l an hour
I set the tank up with tap water.
nothing has died in the tank, i have had my tank running for 6 weeks with no live stock in it. i have had 3 fish in it for a week now, a royal tang, pyjama cardinal and a bannana wrasse, also a dancing shrimp. also have two corals a green xenia and two toad mushrooms that are on about 4kg of live rock and thats all so far.

 

[TigerIssey]

Are you using any form of phosphate remover, if not you will need to, don't go cheap its false economy, I just found that out, go for Rowaphos.

Did you test the tap water??

If going for corals, really much better to use RO water.

At the end of the cycle did you do a large water change??

Sounds like adding 3 fish and corals is causing a slight mini cycle.

EDIT missed words out.

 

[n3ont3tra]

I agree with TigerIssey. Do you have live rock? If you do it should sort itself out in a few days, just do a water change.

 

[charles bentley]

no i am going to get a phosphate remover friday. I did not check the tap water, is there any way i can get rid of the ammonia? or what can i do?

 

[TigerIssey]

As neontetra says, do you have live rock as your main filtration??

 

[charles bentley]

no i am going to get a phosphate remover friday. I did not check the tap water, is there any way i can get rid of the ammonia? or what can i do?

i dont have any liverock am i best getting some

 

[TigerIssey]

How did you cycle?? was it using pure ammonia??

If going for corals really could do with the extra stabilty you get from live rock (known as Berlin Filtration system). Google it and have a read.

You will probably need to do a large water change again, you may be better to take the fish back if you do want coral then get your live rock in. You will get a mini cycle with live rock and is best not to have any fish in. At the top of the main forum age in right hand corner is aquarium calculators, it will work out how much LR you will need.

 

[charles bentley]

in the booklet i got with my test kit it says if the ammonia is 1.2 or less use nutrafin cycle on a regular basis. is the rite or a load of crap?

 

[n3ont3tra]

Load of crap, they're trying to sell you something. Your best bet is to do daily water changes until it's under control

 

[TigerIssey]

Would that by any chance be the nutrafin masterkit you are using??

To be honest there may be some chemical in there that will make the ammonia convert to ammonium which is less toxic, so it may protect the fish.

Did you cycle the filter with pure ammonia??

EDIT Only add if you already have it. Don't go out and buy it it is not worth it.

 

[charles bentley]

ok thanx mate how much water per day?

 

[TigerIssey]

Did you cycle the tank with pure ammonia??