Ammonia level in new reef tank

[Chirag96]

Hi everyone, I have setup a new Saltwater tank 52 litres and have been adding the seachem stability nitrifying bacteria for more than a week but the ammonia level is still at 0.25, it won't go down no matter how much bacteria I add. I don't have any fish or corals added at all yet the ammonia level wouldn't go down. PLEASE HELP!!!

 

[MERKEY]

What test kit are you using?

API is notorious for .25 false readings.

 

[Chirag96]

What test kit are you using?

API is notorious for .25 false readings.

I am using the API. Can you recommend any other ones please?

 

[Idech]

I am using the API. Can you recommend any other ones please?

Just compare your tank results with new saltwater. If the colors match, then you have no ammonia (assuming you’re using rodi water to make saltwater).

I‘ve always used API for ammonia and never had problems.

 

[Chirag96]

I am using Tap water. But I treated it with tap water conditioner

 

[MERKEY]

I am using the API. Can you recommend any other ones please?

Salifert
Hannah
Fluval has one too

 

[MERKEY]

I am using Tap water. But I treated it with tap water conditioner

If you can get an rodi buddy unit that would help a lot.

 

[Chirag96]

If you can get an rodi buddy unit that would help a lot

Thanks I will get that. For now is it okay if I add a few fish?

 

[MERKEY]

There are a lot of threads about using bottle bacteria and it working immediately and people adding fish.

Could you do a test of everything you have and show a picture of the results?

 

[bstodds15]

If you use treated tap water, you will be generally ok adding Hardier fish. Corals will most likely give you some issues.

agreed that you should get an RODI unit, or start buying RODI water (or premixed saltwater) from your lfs.

 

[Garf]

You may also get issues develope using treated tap water to replace evaporation. Treated tapwater may mess with the ammonia test results. Can I assume that no ammonia has been added intentionally to kick off the cycle?

 

[nereefpat]

Can you tell us more about the cycle? For instance, if you added ammonia and it read 2ppm and now it's been sitting at 0.25ppm for a while now, then you're likely safe to add a hardy fish.

 

[dthom]

Sorry if I missed it, but what are your Nitrite's testing at? How about Nitrate's?
Ammonia is only the 1st part of the cycle.

 

[SlugSnorter]

I am using the API. Can you recommend any other ones please?

Sailfurt or Redsea. Hanna arguably sells the best kits, and are electronic but also very costly

 

[SilvermistInc]

Sailfurt or Redsea. Hanna arguably sells the best kits, and are electronic but also very costly

Hanna also doesn't have any nitrite kits and their ammonia test is only for freshwater at the moment.

 

[SlugSnorter]

Hanna also doesn't have any nitrite kits and their ammonia test is only for freshwater at the moment.

nitrite isn't really important for SW 9 (for most anyways). (even so, there is a checker for nitrite https://www.hannainst.com/hi764-nitrite-ulr-for-marine.html)

also there is a SW ammonia checker: https://www.hannainst.com/marine-ammonia-checker-hc.html

 

[Chirag96]

You may also get issues develope using treated tap water to replace evaporation. Treated tapwater may mess with the ammonia test results. Can I assume that no ammonia has been added intentionally to kick off the cycle?

No ammonia was added intentionally. Finally started seeing some nitrate levels

 

[Garf]

No ammonia was added intentionally. Finally started seeing some nitrate levels

No food or anything?

Dry rock and sand or live rock / sand?

 

[SilvermistInc]

nitrite isn't really important for SW 9 (for most anyways). (even so, there is a checker for nitrite https://www.hannainst.com/hi764-nitrite-ulr-for-marine.html)

also there is a SW ammonia checker: https://www.hannainst.com/marine-ammonia-checker-hc.html

BRB gonna buy some test kits

 

[Chirag96]

No food or anything?

Dry rock and sand or live rock / sand?

Have dry rock and coral sand