Several water changes ammonia still .25???

[femmeartist51]

I have completed several water changes 1/4 tank last week, this week about, well almost half. Tested water before last change PH 8.2 ammonia .25 nitrite. 25 and nitrate 20, Now after another water change, PH 8.2 Ammonia .25 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 40
Got filters etc. So wonder what is going on. Checked for the missing fish, not under the rocks. So this is strange for sure. I have done everything I know to do. Got what looks like algae growing on the glass. Thanks all for any ideas.

 

[bang guy]

Are you using an Aquarium Pharmaceutical's test kit?

Are you overstocked?

Are you overfeeding?

 

[femmeartist51]

Using API test kits, not overstocked, two clown and one yellow tang. One anemone don not over feed usually once every other day., frozen brine, us one small cube. Checked all over for my missing fish, so not sure why things go wakie in my tank, never did., Not until I went on vacation
will do another water change, darn again another one

 

[silverado61]

That might be your problem. Api kits are known for not giving true results. You might not have an ammonia problem. Try changing kits. Seachem, salifert or red sea.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by femmeartist51 http:///t/397398/several-water-changes-ammonia-still-25#post_3543882
Using API test kits, not overstocked, two clown and one yellow tang. One anemone don not over feed usually once every other day., frozen brine, us one small cube. Checked all over for my missing fish, so not sure why things go wakie in my tank, never did., Not until I went on vacation
will do another water change, darn again another one

Hi,

The only test I ever found inaccurate (actually just 4Xs higher because it tests different then other kits) on the API is the nitrate one. the rest seemed fine to me, but who knows. Once a test kit gets a bad rap, it's over.

Even a dead fish as the cause, would eventually become nitrate over time. Something is off balance and remaining there. How much live rock do you have? With enough surface area for the good bacteria to build on should keep things balanced. I used to really clean my canister filters, too well it turned out, and that caused my ammonia to climb to .25 and stay there.

I would like to suggest that you invest in some Macroalgae, it will bring everything back under control, add a little color, and fix things so you don't have to do so many water changes.

 

[silverado61]

When I first started out I used API and after my final spike the tests always read .25 .25 .25 and I just scratched my head wondering what I was doing wrong. The kit didn't expire till 2016. After I switched kits it went to zero and stayed there.
You could be right about the bad rap Flower but it just left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by silverado61 http:///t/397398/several-water-changes-ammonia-still-25#post_3543918
When I first started out I used API and after my final spike the tests always read .25 .25 .25 and I just scratched my head wondering what I was doing wrong. The kit didn't expire till 2016. After I switched kits it went to zero and stayed there.
You could be right about the bad rap Flower but it just left a bad taste in my mouth.

That's what I mean when I say it's over. Once a test kit is not trusted, it's not trusted, and you may as well move on the another brand.

 

[femmeartist51]

I had heard about api having problems. I have maybe 15 rocks live, some large some small. I clean the filter pads out in salt water. It is so weird. I want to scream at the tank, not that that would help. Guess I need to find a new test kit that is for sure. Thanks for the info

 

[silverado61]

Don't clean all your filters at once. Rotate the cleaning. You want to keep good bacteria in your tank. And you don't have to clean them with saltwater. RO water is good enough.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by femmeartist51 http:///t/397398/several-water-changes-ammonia-still-25#post_3543991
I had heard about api having problems. I have maybe 15 rocks live, some large some small. I clean the filter pads out in salt water. It is so weird. I want to scream at the tank, not that that would help. Guess I need to find a new test kit that is for sure. Thanks for the info

Hi,

LOL...15 rocks...doesn't tell me much, since 14 rocks could be the size of melons or golf balls. How big is the tank, and how many pounds of rock do you have?