Ammonia won't Drop Past .25

[Kasey Grohowski]

Ive been doing tests daily with api and red sea both are showing .25 ammonia 0 nitrites and 15 nitrates. I have a baby marbled catshark and clownfish only in this tank. A bubble magus curve 9 (rated for 400 gallons) skimmer seachem purigen and matrix (a lot of matrix) and marine pure bio balls. Anyone know why ammonia wont drop?? Also ive been dosing seachem prime and the fish are acting completely fine eating no gulping at surface or bleeding gills. Also weekly 10% water changes.

 

[PatW]

The API test often reads .25 when ammonia is actually 0. But the Red Sea Test usually is ok. You might take a sample to the LFS for checking. Also there should be u tube videos for the Red Sea Test. You might not be doing it right.

You might be feeding more food than your bacteria population can process. But that seems unlikely.

 

[crusso1993]

Ive been doing tests daily with api and red sea both are showing .25 ammonia 0 nitrites and 15 nitrates. I have a baby marbled catshark and clownfish only in this tank. A bubble magus curve 9 (rated for 400 gallons) skimmer seachem purigen and matrix (a lot of matrix) and marine pure bio balls. Anyone know why ammonia wont drop?? Also ive been dosing seachem prime and the fish are acting completely fine eating no gulping at surface or bleeding gills. Also weekly 10% water changes.

Out of curiosity; how large is the tank and how long has it been set up?

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Out of curiosity; how large is the tank and how long has it been set up?

220 gallons and 2 months

 

[crusso1993]

220 gallons and 2 months

Should be well cycled by now depending on how much matrix you're using.
I'd start by getting the water tested at my LFS to verify my numbers were correct. API are notoriously bad SW tests.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Should be well cycled by now depending on how much matrix you're using.
I'd start by getting the water tested at my LFS to verify my numbers were correct. API are notoriously bad SW tests.

Yes it's been cycled for a month and the shark eats like 5 or 6 ghost shrimp every other day so the bio load is very very low right now

 

[crusso1993]

Hopefully, you're not far from a LFS or another reefer and can get the water tested there.

 

[Kasey Grohowski]

Ill check yt videos for sea test to see if im doing it wrong.

 

[crusso1993]

Ill check yt videos for sea test to see if im doing it wrong.

That's a smart move. I'd still have a LFS test it for me just to make sure. IME, API tests are very spotty for SW.