Help with Ammonia Issue

[Brandon.helvie]

I can't figure out this ammonia issue, folks. Currently have a 4 month old Nuvo 40. Salinity 1.026, Nitrate 0, Nitrate 10, Ammonia 8ppm. This is the third time i've tested and come up with 8ppm. Granted, I am using an API test (I know I shouldn't but it's what I have at my disposal. I religiously do weekly 5 gallon water changes. Had an issue with zero nitrate and stopped skimming to get them up. Currently have 2 smaller clowns,Royal Gramma, YWG, Pistol Shrimp, and a handful of hermits and about 10 corals. I feed once a day frozen and light. When cycled I started with Fritz turbo 9. Three weeks ago I added a bottle of pink algea (it was free so why not). I have 40 lbs or rock in the display and some ceramic media in the back that was just recently cleaned. I vacuum the sand, about a quarter of the bed, every water change. I blow off the rocks before the water change and scrub down the power heads and caddy. I cant figure out why my ammonia continue to show such high levels. There is nothing dead that im aware of in the tank. Everything in the tank seems fine, no signs of stress. Rock continues to age, has a good amount of coralline starting. Whats the deal?

 

[Brandon.helvie]

Forgot to mention i've tested my RODI as well, came up with no reading with ammonia.

 

[Brandon.helvie]

Additionally, I run floss and change every 4 days. When doing water changed I alternate between removing water from the display and the back of the AIO each week.

 

[schuby]

When your cycle completed, I assume both your Ammonia and Nitrite levels were zero. Is this correct? How long did they stay zero and how long has either one been non-zero? Any major changes in the recent past?

 

[Perthegallon]

Could the test kit be dead I know that sounds stupid but I go through test kits often

 

[Brandon.helvie]

Levels were zero until about a month ago. Then the reading started to increase. There hasn’t been any recent additions other than an inch long YWG at that time. Like I said, I’m very structured in my maintenance and never miss a day

 

[Brandon.helvie]

Nitrate was at zero as well for the longest time. I stopped skimming because of it and those have risen, which I wanted. The ammonia level was definitely not wanted.

 

[Brandon.helvie]

Could the test kit be dead I know that sounds stupid but I go through test kits often

Maybe, going to retest after I get another water change in. Have some mixing as we speak.

 

[Perthegallon]

Maybe, going to retest after I get another water change in. Have some mixing as we speak.

Try mixing 1/3 water with new water in a small cup then test it and see if you get any difference

 

[Bosreef]

If your amonia was at 8.0 everything would be dead in the tank. Amonia test are notorious for giving false positives

 

[Aquavaj]

I think your testing is off or the test kit is bad. The Seachem ammonia badge already reports .5 ppm as toxic. If it was truly 8 then everything in the tank would be dead.

 

[Brandon.helvie]

Completed a 5 gallon water change and it dropped back down to the typical .25 with the Api test. Sucked out water from the rear chambers and did the usual maintenance just in case. Chalking this up to a faulty test. I’m sure levels were existent, just not to the level that was indicated. As many stated, at 8ppm I’d have additions to my trash can. Not sure why that never crossed my mind. Guess I panicked, again. I take good care of my fish and enjoy them tremendously.