Help ammonia reading

[Matt Bravo]

So on Sunday I had cleaned my sand bed from any extra food that could’ve stayed behind and decomposed I want to do this about twice a week but I’ve become a bit concerned after Monday since my ammonia came up to about .2 (Red Sea) and I tested later in the day and it looks like it came back down but at the same time I try to see what I want to and not what is actually going on so I was wondering if someone could take a look and tell me what they see

 

[wwarby]

I struggle with this too on all my tests. I see about 0.05 on that card, based on my perception that the water is closer to the colour of the zero than the 0.2 patch.

My Salifert tests for ammonia are 0, <0.15 and 0.25 for the first three patches on the card and honestly I could pick any one of those first three on every test I do and convince myself I’ve picked the most accurate match. I hate tests with this much fine judgement required but everyone says the Hanna tests are inaccurate and fall out of calibration so I persevere with the Salifert ones.

 

[Lavey29]

You should only clean like a third of the sand at a time to avoid releasing excess toxins. As long as you are producing nitrates any residual ammonia should be quickly cycled without issue.

 

[melonheadorion]

to me, looks like 0

 

[edd59]

I struggle with this too on all my tests. I see about 0.05 on that card, based on my perception that the water is closer to the colour of the zero than the 0.2 patch.

My Salifert tests for ammonia are 0, <0.15 and 0.25 for the first three patches on the card and honestly I could pick any one of those first three on every test I do and convince myself I’ve picked the most accurate match. I hate tests with this much fine judgement required but everyone says the Hanna tests are inaccurate and fall out of calibration so I persevere with the Salifert ones.

looks like 0
im the same way with salifert ammo, just ordered red sea. looks more accurate here

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

So on Sunday I had cleaned my sand bed from any extra food that could’ve stayed behind and decomposed I want to do this about twice a week but I’ve become a bit concerned after Monday since my ammonia came up to about .2 (Red Sea) and I tested later in the day and it looks like it came back down but at the same time I try to see what I want to and not what is actually going on so I was wondering if someone could take a look and tell me what they see

I agree with others that your photo looks like a zero reading. But in an already cycled tank, a slight rise is nothing to be concerned about. Remember that the way to test if a tank is cycled is if it can process 2ppm ammonia in 24 hours... A small ammonia reading after feeding, stirring the sand, etc is fine.

 

[Matt Bravo]

I struggle with this too on all my tests. I see about 0.05 on that card, based on my perception that the water is closer to the colour of the zero than the 0.2 patch.

My Salifert tests for ammonia are 0, <0.15 and 0.25 for the first three patches on the card and honestly I could pick any one of those first three on every test I do and convince myself I’ve picked the most accurate match. I hate tests with this much fine judgement required but everyone says the Hanna tests are inaccurate and fall out of calibration so I persevere with the Salifert ones.

Haha yeah same I used to have api test kits but then saw a lot of people say how inconsistent and inaccurate their reading were and I decided to go with Red Sea thanks for the advice though appreciate it

 

[Matt Bravo]

You should only clean like a third of the sand at a time to avoid releasing excess toxins. As long as you are producing nitrates any residual ammonia should be quickly cycled without issue.

I hadn’t heard of that but thanks for the advice I’ll make sure to siphon less parts per water change

 

[Matt Bravo]

to me, looks like 0

Yeah to me as well but obviously I saw what I wanted to and came for a second opinion. Thanks for responding

 

[Matt Bravo]

looks like 0
im the same way with salifert ammo, just ordered red sea. looks more accurate here

Yeah it is kinda easier I just read that 0 ammonia is extremely obvious on Red Sea and was just being worried but good luck with your new kit

 

[vetteguy53081]

So on Sunday I had cleaned my sand bed from any extra food that could’ve stayed behind and decomposed I want to do this about twice a week but I’ve become a bit concerned after Monday since my ammonia came up to about .2 (Red Sea) and I tested later in the day and it looks like it came back down but at the same time I try to see what I want to and not what is actually going on so I was wondering if someone could take a look and tell me what they see

Appears fairly low and safe yet but a reading to kep an eye on. You can change water but no immediate need.

 

[Matt Bravo]

I agree with others that your photo looks like a zero reading. But in an already cycled tank, a slight rise is nothing to be concerned about. Remember that the way to test if a tank is cycled is if it can process 2ppm ammonia in 24 hours... A small ammonia reading after feeding, stirring the sand, etc is fine.

Yeah it’s been up for about a month and about 2 weeks but I got hit by new tank syndrome so these ammonia kits gave me PTSD also thanks for the advice

 

[Lavey29]

I hadn’t heard of that but thanks for the advice I’ll make sure to siphon less parts per water change

I guess if you have a nano you could hit most of it but with med or large tank you do it in sections typically on different water changes.

 

[Matt Bravo]

Appears fairly low and safe yet but a reading to kep an eye on. You can change water but no immediate need.

What’s the highest ammonia really should be in order to cause immediate action? I’ve seen a lot of different responses and it would be great to hear what you think thanks for responding

 

[vetteguy53081]

What’s the highest ammonia really should be in order to cause immediate action? I’ve seen a lot of different responses and it would be great to hear what you think thanks for responding

Desired is .025 or below but .040 would be limit

 

[Matt Bravo]

I guess if you have a nano you could hit most of it but with med or large tank you do it in sections typically on different water changes.

Yeah it’s my first tank so it’s a 10 gallon but should I still siphon in sections by weeks in order to avoid this mini spike again that’s what makes sense to me at least but what are your thoughts?

 

[Lavey29]

Yeah it’s my first tank so it’s a 10 gallon but should I still siphon in sections by weeks in order to avoid this mini spike again that’s what makes sense to me at least but what are your thoughts?

I would do half and half in that tank

 

[Matt Bravo]

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Desired is .025 or below but .040 would be limit

Interesting I’ve been chasing specific parameters but realized that stability is better than perfect parms which are harder in a nano but thanks for the opinion

 

[Matt Bravo]

I would do half and half in that tank

Alright thanks for the advice I appreciate it!

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Yeah it’s been up for about a month and about 2 weeks but I got hit by new tank syndrome so these ammonia kits gave me PTSD also thanks for the advice

Are you sure it was cycled to begin with? You shouldn't really have enough junk in the sand to cause a spike in such a young tank...