Newly mixed water with 1ppm ammonia??

McCarrick · Mar 23, 2022

Bought some salt at a garage mistake (potentially mistake #1) and it got super hard so I made a slurry with some RODI. My one coral was not looking good so I tested my water. 1ppm ammonia and 10ppm nitrate! I then tested my newly mixed water and it tested at 1ppm ammonia. What's going on here?? I'm going to test my RODI water (new cartridges) to double check. I don't have a tss meter (I know- for shame) and I havent switched past the API ammonia test kit (also for shame). Any thoughts? Does sitting water collect ammonia or does old salt?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 24, 2022

It is not uncommon for new salt mixes to have some ammonia, but 1 ppm is more than normal.

If you are using it for water changes, it's still fine (assuming ammonia and nitrate are the only issues) as long as the change is not more than 10%.

FWIW, corals may like having some ammonia. Many take up up preferentially to nitrate.

McCarrick · Mar 24, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
It is not uncommon for new salt mixes to have some ammonia, but 1 ppm is more than normal.

If you are using it for water changes, it's still fine (assuming ammonia and nitrate are the only issues) as long as the change is not more than 10%.

FWIW, corals may like having some ammonia. Many take up up preferentially to nitrate.

Thanks Randy!
Would you remind me what FWIW is?
Thanks again!