Confused By Water Results

[donald110]

ok so i just done my water test should really do them daily but don't. i normally do a 50% water change over the weekend, but i worked all weekend and today is my day off, my tank not fully stock, it been running for nearly a year. i split the tank about a month ago.

my water results are

ammonia 1
nitrite 0.25
nitrate 0

why is my tank decided that its starting the cycling process again, is it because of splitting the tank. there a filter on each side. and water can flow between each side. both filter have been running for a year. i change a quarter of the filter once a month for a new bit.

i am going to do 50% water change and test again. will post results. so confused

 

[KittyKat]

Test your tap water ammonia.

 

[donald110]

ok test tape water

it came up as 1 before and after adding aquasafe

 

[KittyKat]

Now check with your water supplier about what it should normally be.

Was the water change a large one? That would explain the tank water ammonia now. You may want to use a dechlorinator which will convert NH[sub]3[/sub] to NH[sub]4[/sub][sup]+[/sup], making the ammonia less harmful to fish.

 

[donald110]

i used tetra pond aqua safe. does that convert the ammonia hope it does. i am flat broke. (stupid car)

just done a 75% water change.

results are

ammonia 1
nitrite 0
nitrate 0

but why did my last results have no nitrate reading if i not done a water change for nearly 2 weeks.

 

[KittyKat]

Which nitrate test are you using? I hear the API one is slightly difficult to use sometimes.. Do you have any plants? And what is your tap nitrate?

I don't think Tetra's dechlorinators treat ammonia, from what I remember. Read the label, it will clearly say if it does.

 

[mattvillas]

I have the same problem with my tap water. You will have to use either Seachem Prime or AmQuel Plus. Most people recommend Prime over AmQuel Plus. I've been using Prime, and just recently got AmQuel Plus to compare the two. To be on the safe side I add a little ammonia remover to the water before I add it because I was having a problem with ammonia after water changes.

 

[donald110]

api freshwater master test kit

no plants

nitrate tap water reading is 0

 

[codheadjohn]

I have the same problem with my tap water. You will have to use either Seachem Prime or AmQuel Plus. Most people recommend Prime over AmQuel Plus. I've been using Prime, and just recently got AmQuel Plus to compare the two. To be on the safe side I add a little ammonia remover to the water before I add it because I was having a problem with ammonia after water changes.

If using the API test kit, you have to give bottle 2 a good shake before adding, so you can see bubbles in the drops, and then a good shake on the final solution or else it reads as 0. Test kits also have a best before date (probably not listed) and are only reliable for a limited time after opening.

 

[KittyKat]

You will have to use either Seachem Prime or AmQuel Plus.

..or API's StressCoat..

 

[notg2009]

I have the same problem with my tap water. You will have to use either Seachem Prime or AmQuel Plus. Most people recommend Prime over AmQuel Plus. I've been using Prime, and just recently got AmQuel Plus to compare the two. To be on the safe side I add a little ammonia remover to the water before I add it because I was having a problem with ammonia after water changes.

I use Amguel plus, but it says on the bottle that it lowers the oxygen in the water so u need to have some aeration going. overall i'm happy with amquel plus ammonia detox.