Colu Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 No I don't think that would be a problem if it coming out at 0 API ammonia test kit test for NH3 and NH4 you won't a test kit that only test for NH3 your test kit is test for both ammonia and ammonium giving a higher reading 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGardner Posted January 24, 2021 Author Share Posted January 24, 2021 OH I didn't realize that. Can you suggest a test kit that will only test for NH3? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 I use NT LABS ammonia test kit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k8nabel Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 In my experience, the more plants I have in a new tank the faster it cycles. Another thing you may consider adding if you haven't already is an air stone. I put mine right below the intake for my filtration so that more oxygen is available to the bacteria in my filter media. I know how frustrating and confusing getting started can be, I was in the same boat not very long ago. Its so rewarding when it all comes together! Good luck! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGardner Posted January 24, 2021 Author Share Posted January 24, 2021 13 minutes ago, k8nabel said: In my experience, the more plants I have in a new tank the faster it cycles. Another thing you may consider adding if you haven't already is an air stone. I put mine right below the intake for my filtration so that more oxygen is available to the bacteria in my filter media. I know how frustrating and confusing getting started can be, I was in the same boat not very long ago. Its so rewarding when it all comes together! Good luck! Thanks, yeah, I'm trying not to beat myself up, but it's certainly been a learning process. I have the Flex Bubble Wand LED thing in my tank. Since it's adding bubbles all the time does that do the same thing as the air stone? It's on all the time, but I have the lights only working from 6pm to 8pm at night, the bar light goes from 8am to 6pm each day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 Yes it work the same as an airstone airstone just produces finer bubbles 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGardner Posted January 24, 2021 Author Share Posted January 24, 2021 @Colu is the NT Labs Ammonia Test only available in the UK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 Am not sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 You should be able to get salifert ammonia test kit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGardner Posted January 24, 2021 Author Share Posted January 24, 2021 8 minutes ago, Colu said: You should be able to get salifert ammonia test kit Just ordered and ordered an ammonia alert card to go in the tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 (edited) Is it the seachem ammonia alert card they show reading for NH3 in my experience not very accurate Edited January 25, 2021 by Colu Miss spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGardner Posted January 24, 2021 Author Share Posted January 24, 2021 Yeah I figured it wasn't super accurate but that it would be a warning in case I somehow wasn't testing 2 times a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 It has tendency to give higher reading as long as your using it along side your test kit there should be any problems Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medkow74 Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 (edited) From my understanding the Seachem dot test reads only Free Ammonia Gas "the harmful stuff". The API liquid test kits read "TAN" or "Total Ammonia Nitrogen" not the free ammonia gas. I use the DOT tests in my three tanks because it shows when I truly need to worry. Not saying the API is bad or useless because I do use that as well. It's just sometimes we see the high API reading and panic when depending on your PH and tank temp the Ammonia you are seeing may not be as.toxic as you think. But definitely don't get me wrong 0ppm ammonia is still what you should strive for but maybe we don't need to lose sleep while getting there. Edited January 25, 2021 by Medkow74 Grammar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medkow74 Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 Forgot this link I use as well. You enter a few tank parameters and it will calculate your NH3 concentration or free ammonia. https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/FreeAmmonia.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGardner Posted January 25, 2021 Author Share Posted January 25, 2021 Update! It's been a week since I started adding Stability and we've managed to keep all the fish alive since Thursday! Thank goodness, we've definitely turned the corner. I really appreciate everyone's help. We have goats, and an outdoor only cat, and this was the biggest learning curve by far! Today my kids didn't have school so we all went up to Aquarium Co-op! What a great store!!! Really nice staff too! We added three more plants, and Vallisneria, Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus and Duckweed. I changed out 25% of the water, added Prime, added Stability and added Fritz Zyme. I did an Ammonia test this morning and it hadn't looked like it changed, but this afternoon it definitely looked lighter in color. I am still waiting for the better NH3 test. Also after talking to the staff, I didn't get the person's name, I think we have a plan for the next fish. We have only one Cory Catfish, so we'll add Cory Catfish, AFTER the tank has fully cycled. Really glad we went up to the store. (We also got donuts at a great donut place nearby.) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGardner Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share Posted January 26, 2021 So I added the Fritz Zyme yesterday. I added 1.5 cups based on the 4oz per 10 gallons in the instructions. I'm about to do another water change today, but I'm concerned that I'm taking a lot of the good bacteria with it. The bottle is only 16oz, so I can only add another 4oz today. Should I continue the course with a 25% water change daily? Still haven't gotten the better ammonia test. Should arrive tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 20 minutes ago, GoldenGardner said: So I added the Fritz Zyme yesterday. I added 1.5 cups based on the 4oz per 10 gallons in the instructions. I'm about to do another water change today, but I'm concerned that I'm taking a lot of the good bacteria with it. The bottle is only 16oz, so I can only add another 4oz today. Should I continue the course with a 25% water change daily? Still haven't gotten the better ammonia test. Should arrive tomorrow. I would try to wait 24h after adding the Fritz Zyme. Then you should be ok. That number is arbitrary but the bacteria should stick to the filter/decorations/tank walls fairly rapidly. If it has been 24h, you are good to go. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGardner Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share Posted January 26, 2021 Great! Thank you so much Brandy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGardner Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share Posted January 27, 2021 HI All, I did a 25% water change this morning and was having trouble finding our 4th guppy. I finally found her and she was laying on the bottom of the tank. Then she moved on top of the chest and just sat there. Is there something wrong? I get the other ammonia test today. I'm not sure if when I fed them that she went up to get food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGardner Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share Posted January 27, 2021 Got the Salifert Ammonia test today and it looks like it's maybe at .25 or less ammonia. Arg..... Not sure it's so light colored that it almost looks like there's none, but that can't be right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwack Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Do you know your temperature and pH? There's a relationship between those two that can be used to determine NH3 toxicity. Have you tested the water's nitrite levels? If you've been loading up with Fritzyme and fish waste, you may be hitting a nitrite spike as the tank cycles and bacteria grows. Water quality could be OK and your guppy may be stressed from all the changes taking place. Could also be some residual damage from ammonia exposure if the levels got high enough to damage its gills. It's not super surprising that your ammonia is super light. You've got lots of water volume for what you have stocked in the tank, done recent water changes and been adding bacterial boosters. My opinion would be to stick with the course you're on. Fish in cycles for new aquarists are tough, but lots of people end up doing it this way out of necessity (myself included.) It's hard, but remember that patience is key here. I know it's really hard to resist the temptation to DO ALL THE THINGS, especially when fish are dying, but sometimes less is more. Letting things settle can do wonders for you tank, especially if water quality is looking OK. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGardner Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share Posted January 27, 2021 1 hour ago, Schwack said: Do you know your temperature and pH? There's a relationship between those two that can be used to determine NH3 toxicity. Have you tested the water's nitrite levels? If you've been loading up with Fritzyme and fish waste, you may be hitting a nitrite spike as the tank cycles and bacteria grows. Water quality could be OK and your guppy may be stressed from all the changes taking place. Could also be some residual damage from ammonia exposure if the levels got high enough to damage its gills. It's not super surprising that your ammonia is super light. You've got lots of water volume for what you have stocked in the tank, done recent water changes and been adding bacterial boosters. My opinion would be to stick with the course you're on. Fish in cycles for new aquarists are tough, but lots of people end up doing it this way out of necessity (myself included.) It's hard, but remember that patience is key here. I know it's really hard to resist the temptation to DO ALL THE THINGS, especially when fish are dying, but sometimes less is more. Letting things settle can do wonders for you tank, especially if water quality is looking OK. My pH levels are at 7.4, temperature is at 75.6. I still haven't had any Nitrite Level register in the test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwack Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 33 minutes ago, GoldenGardner said: My pH levels are at 7.4, temperature is at 75.6. I still haven't had any Nitrite Level register in the test. That's probably good news, any movement on the nitrates front? A week might be too soon to expect results, but at least you'd know things were happening! As far as ammonia toxicity goes, it looks like you'd need to hit ~1.5ppm before seeing lots of fish death. I'm not an expert when it comes to fish ailments, but it wouldn't surprise me if stress is taking a toll on your guppy. Hopefully others have some ideas for how to help your guppy, if possible. My only suggestion would be using aquarium salt at 1tsp/gallon in some kind of quarantine space, but that's really just a general cure-all, not targeted to any specific symptoms. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGardner Posted January 31, 2021 Author Share Posted January 31, 2021 Well, everything is going ok today. I turned the temp up yesterday to 78, I read somewhere that 78 was a better temp. We still have the remaining 6 fish and mystery snail. Everyone seems to be in good spirits. I was a bit concerned that one of the Neon Tetra's early on got sucked into the filter system. So today before I did the water change I turned the filter off, and opened it up. Although it certainly looked dirty it also looked fine. No fish parts inside. I was really grateful for that. I did a 25% water change and then primed the pump. Fed the fish and everyone went for the food as soon as I put it in. Today is Day 15 of having added the fish. I should get the levamisole on Monday. I also ordered a second filter for a quarantine tank, which I will add to the tank as soon as I get it, and then before I get any new fish I'll quarantine them first. The water tests don't really show any movement, but the fish are looking good today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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