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View Full Version : Ammonia readings correct? nead answer asap

Amazon
08-07-2009, 11:45 PM
yesterday i set up a 55g brackish tank with sg of 1.010-1.011. I added filter media and substrate from my other brackish tank. i also added some freshwater bacteria booster stuff to the tank. today i put one molly in the tank and tested for ammonia. All i have is a freshwater test kit so I had to use that. The ammonia readings cam up to be pretty high. Like around the 0.5-1 range. I now currently have to fish in there from my other brackish tank that dont seem to be doing real bad. This makes no sense since the tank was set up yesterday.
So either all the bacteria in the media died because the new tank is saltier than the other
or
The test kit is messing up because the tank is high end brackish and not freshwater.
Test kit is a Red Sea fresh lab brand.
Please answer asap.
thanks everyone
Northernguy
08-08-2009, 12:06 AM
Did you also test your tap water?
Amazon
08-08-2009, 12:08 AM
no let me do that.
Amazon
08-08-2009, 12:29 AM
0 ammonia in tap water
Wild Turkey
08-08-2009, 12:40 AM
Any rise in nitrites?

What BB did you use?

Seeing some spikes in the first few days after seeding a new tank is pretty typical
Amazon
08-08-2009, 12:41 AM
I used some freshwater pond treatment thats from last christmas. Let me test nitrite. Ill be back with results soon.
Amazon
08-08-2009, 01:14 AM
nitrite is 0
Amazon
08-08-2009, 01:52 AM
any more responses?
thanks again guys
megastealer
08-08-2009, 05:13 AM
Just a guess.. but did you put tap water in the tank and then not add dechlorinator? If there is chlorine in the water it could take out the bacteria from your seeded media you brought over.

For whatever reason your media doesn't seem to be removing your ammonia. Maybe you just have lazy bacteria?

Or then again, maybe the tests are wrong. As you said, you are using a freshwater kit and the fish are in brackish water.
Wild Turkey
08-08-2009, 10:45 AM
Though I cant tell you with certainty the readings will even be linear, I can tell you it will still read ammonia in brackish, though the readings might be off

If you dont have any readings for nitrites today I would go ahead and carry over some more media.

The BB doesnt sound like its any good

Tetra Safestart and API stress zyme work well, but I wouldnt waste the money if you have seeded media around

API test kits work for both sw and fw. I cant remember which card to use but I think smaug knows