Water Test

[Bangin]

BUT you do have some level of ammonia - you need to figure that one out first, what is causing it?

Exactly. That worries us more than hardness and nitrates.

I'm thinking 'a number of fish and not enough plants'? Plant that baby full!

I'd add more lighting too.

Edited to add: I just looked at your tank. It looks great! How do those bettas get along? They have a nice, spacious retreat, if need be!

 

[yhbae]

A tank should not contain any ammonia even if there's zero plants - they are nice to have, as oppose to must have...

What kind of filtration do you have?

 

[Scougie]

Cheers Bangin. The tank looks a little different now. I went nuts with Vallis along the back yesterday and also added another 4 mid ground plants so we'll see if that makes any difference. I can't add more lighting unless I buy a new hood. Re the filtration Yhbae it's Juwels own built in system no idea what it is.

 

[BuntbarschXXL]

Ammonia is not as harmful at lower ph levels. That's a little good news, but be sure not to overfeed the fish. Good luck.

Hi.

Below ph 7, there is ammonium, not ammonia. Ammonia (NH3) is very toxic, ammonium (NH4) isn't.

Ammonium is used by the bacteria nitrosomonas to produce nitrite (NO2), nitrobacter turn it into nitrate (NO3).

 

[Bangin]

Thanks for breaking that down, BuntbarschXXL.

 

[Lateral Line]

Ammonium is still toxic, it is not quite as toxic as dissolved ammonia however. You should aim for zero ammonia.

If you are doing regular water changes and your nitrates are staying high, you might want to try testing your tapwater for nitrate. In many areas, agricultural fertiliser use has permeated the water table and the result is nitrates in the tap water.

 

[Scougie]

Done two water changes in as many days still no difference in amonia or nitrates? Tap water is normal.

 

[Scougie]

The plot thickens.... I've left it alone for a week now and I still have the same readings although my KH and GH are now perfect. The CO2 level is a perfect 22ppm. My amonia is still 0.25!!! However so is my tap water??? How can this be?? Nirtates still 80!!! Water is crystal clear and fish seem happy should I just leave it be?

 

[Lateral Line]

There should not be ammonia in tapwater. If you kit is registering it, then I suspect your kit is duff, or you are doing the test wrong, which, as you are doing the other tests right, would seem unlikely. Try a different test kit, or take a water sample to the shop you brought the kit from.

 

[Scougie]

Is there amonium in tap water? Could it be picking this up?

 

[Lateral Line]

If there are measurable levels of Ammonia or Ammonium salt in your tapwater, in the UK, I would suggest you have a legal case against your water company.

 

[yhbae]

Its probably the kit or the way you are reading the results...

Ammonia isn't exactly the most nutricius stuff for human to eat either, I doubt UK will allow that to happen...