Amonia with 0,15 after two months

[Paulo Faria]

Hi Guys.

A started the aquarium about two months ago with all the necessary items,
and a bottle of Fluval Bio Enhancer (incredibly there are no Dr. Tim's in Europe, only in UK and really expensive).

I was hoping that this next week I could insert a fish or two, but the amonia is still at 0,15.
All the other readings are great.

Do you think I should put some more Bio Enhancer?

Thanks

 

[Azedenkae]

Hi Guys.

A started the aquarium about two months ago with all the necessary items,
and a bottle of Fluval Bio Enhancer (incredibly there are no Dr. Tim's in Europe, only in UK and really expensive).

I was hoping that this next week I could insert a fish or two, but the amonia is still at 0,15.
All the other readings are great.

Do you think I should put some more Bio Enhancer?

Thanks

So two parts to this answer.
1. Ammonia can tend to read slightly above 0. So long as it is not rising above that, you are good.
2. But yes, the question is if it will rise above 0.15. And that depends on if/how well your aquarium is cycled.

 

[Dan_P]

Hi Guys.

A started the aquarium about two months ago with all the necessary items,
and a bottle of Fluval Bio Enhancer (incredibly there are no Dr. Tim's in Europe, only in UK and really expensive).

I was hoping that this next week I could insert a fish or two, but the amonia is still at 0,15.
All the other readings are great.

Do you think I should put some more Bio Enhancer?

Thanks

How are you measuring the ammonia? It is possible that you have 0 ppm ammonia.

Can you add ammonia and monitor how quickly it disappears? This will be the most direct way to test your system.

 

[Paulo Faria]

So two parts to this answer.
1. Ammonia can tend to read slightly above 0. So long as it is not rising above that, you are good.
2. But yes, the question is if it will rise above 0.15. And that depends on if/how well your aquarium is cycled.

Thanks Should I put some more enhancer?

 

[KrisReef]

No, unless you want to spend money trying to get your test kit to read 0 and it probably never will. After that much time add the fish and toss that test kit. Is it API?

Edit:
Looks like you are new here. Welcome to Reef@Reef.

 

[PatW]

The API ammonia test tends to give a non zero ammonia reading even at 0. You might try Salifert or Red Sea.

 

[Paulo Faria]

How are you measuring the ammonia? It is possible that you have 0 ppm ammonia.

Can you add ammonia and monitor how quickly it disappears? This will be the most direct way to test your system.

Hi Dan.
I'm measuring with a Sera kit.
Can you explain how can I do that "add ammonia" test?

Thanks

 

[KrisReef]

@brandon429 (Just saw you were on here) Help!

 

[Dan_P]

Hi Dan.
I'm measuring with a Sera kit.
Can you explain how can I do that "add ammonia" test?

Thanks

If you were to add ammonium chloride to your aquarium to raise the ammonia level to 0.5 or 1 ppm, the ammonia would disappear in a day or two if your system was cycled.

 

[Azedenkae]

Thanks Should I put some more enhancer?

Again, it depends on if your aquarium is cycled.

Whether you start with live sand, live rock, seeded biomedia, bottled bacteria. Whether you generate ammonia from fish food, seafood, dosing ammonium chloride. All of that culminates in just one question: is your aquarium cycled. If it is, constantly reading 0.15ppm is fine. Treat it like reading 0 ammonia. If the aquarium is not cycled, then ammonia will rise if the ammonia production by your live stock outstrips ammonia oxidation.