Ammonia issue

[Qbmafia444]

my tank has been set up for about 6 months now. Took exactly 1 month to cycle before I added anything to tank but for past 3 weeks I had tested for ammonia and the readings had been constant 0.5. I’ve done weekly water changes then test at one point it got as low as 0.25 ( at least what I can tell with the color chart but still around same test range between 0.25 and 0.5, I’ve also added more bacteria ( microbaxter 7 ) and dose prime just as a safe guard. All my 5 fish are fine and every other parameter is fine as well so I’m completely confused. I have a 40 gallon tank with the sea hem tidal 75 filter (which sucks, but I’ve committed for now budget wise) and 25-30 lbs pukani rock. I just did a 20 gallon water change 2 days ago and now tested and it’s at 0.5 still.

Any input?

 

[KMench]

When did you add the fish? Did you add them all at once or over time?

 

[Qbmafia444]

Boo I started with 2 clown then they past away in 2 weeks after tank cycled I also added a cleaner shrimp after that and waited 2 weeks before I added my next fish and at least 2 weeks before each additional

 

[KMench]

Hmmm, your bio-filter should be established then. And you added the fish at a respectable rate. How much/often are you feeding? What are you using for nutrient export? It might be worth a shot to get one of those bacteria in a bottle type product to give it a shot if this seems to be an ongoing problem. It's not good for the fish to be exposed to any levels of ammonia unfortunately.

 

[GBRsouth]

Prime is an ammonia reducer, removing your bacteria's food source. By using it you are preventing bacteria numbers growing and slowing your tank cycle. Gradually reduce your prime doses slowly over time so that bacteria numbers can grow to properly continue your tank cycle. Don't immediately fully stop dosing in one go, as it would cause an ammonia spike.

 

[Qbmafia444]

That makes sense about the prime I never really thought of that I just ordered some seachem stability and gonna dose that as instructions state and see if it help. I’m also not running a protein skimmer and I’m wondering if that’s what I would really need and have to bite the bullet and get one?

 

[Mikedawg]

You might want several LFSs to test your water and consider buying another brand of test kit to see if they all read about the same; reliability and validity of test results is very important I think given all the remedies you've used.

 

[Qbmafia444]

Yea funny u said that I just now ordered the s aches ammonia test kit just because I thought that as well

 

[Qbmafia444]

Hmmm, your bio-filter should be established then. And you added the fish at a respectable rate. How much/often are you feeding? What are you using for nutrient export? It might be worth a shot to get one of those bacteria in a bottle type product to give it a shot if this seems to be an ongoing problem. It's not good for the fish to be exposed to any levels of ammonia unfortunately.

Thank you

 

[Qbmafia444]

Update on my ammonia situation! My ammonia test kit made by API must be bad, I checked exp date and it doesn’t exp for another year however I purchased seachem free and total ammonia test and when tested the results were at 0 ppm for free and total and my API test was still reading at .5 ppm