Problems with my levels PLEASE HELP

iloveswfish · Mar 15, 2015

I tested my water again today and i dont know why the levels are so off, or i think they are..please help..... I am using Instant Ocean reg not the crystals.. i am going to do a water change and see if that makes a difference.. i use RO water. test kit i use is the API and the red sea for the calcium

SG- 1.027
NITRATE -0
NITRITE -0
AMMONIA - 0.25
PHOS - 0.25
ALK - 9
CALCIUM - 520
PH- 7.9

Reefing Madness · Mar 15, 2015

Might want to have the Ammonia retested by someone else, or test your RO to see what its reading. Phosphates high, but other than that, looks normal. Cal could come down a bit, but it will by iteslf, its not terribly high.

LetItReef · Mar 15, 2015

My Alk reading is 15 and Cal is 490 both Salifert test
kit , the others params are 0 and sg 1.025. Using IO reef crystals. Corals are fine. So your reading is not terribly high compare to mine.

iloveswfish · Mar 15, 2015

i tested the ro water and there is nothing in there....i had a a friend test my water and he got the same on the ammonia... i have this bottle of liquid by dr.foster and smith that is instant ammonia remover... i wonder if i should use it?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 15, 2015

Is the alkalinity 9 dKH or 15 dKH?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 15, 2015

Is this a new tank?

iloveswfish · Mar 15, 2015

it is 9 and no this is not really a new tank...i did get a new tank but i transfered all the water into the new tank and this was done about 2 months ago and all the rock and 2 cups of the old sand was put in the new tank..i got new live sand for this tank.

vladandlilith · Mar 15, 2015

Following

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 15, 2015

If the ammonia is real and not test error, it is the biggest concern. Phosphate is the second concern.

Unless you have had things die, the ammonia may not be real. I'd monitor it closely. Using Prime or Amquel could be useful to detoxify the ammonia.

iloveswfish · Mar 15, 2015

well ever since i moved to this tank the ammonia has been 0.25 and the phos has been at 0.25 as far as i know nothing has died, i do have Prime and Dr Foster and smith product called instant ammonia remover is that the same and would it be safe to use that in the tank

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 16, 2015

Maybe the ammonia kit is off. Does it ever read lower?

iloveswfish · Mar 16, 2015

i just bought a new one and the test is reading the same.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 17, 2015

I expect it just hasn't adequately cycled. Moving the water does little for cycling.

Are there fish in the tank?

iloveswfish · Mar 17, 2015

yes i have fish in the tank...and corals....i did a water change tonite and will test tomorrow, should i using essential elements for the corals.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 18, 2015

No, I wouldn't add anything (except alkalinity and calcium if needed) for a while. If the ammonia stays that high, I would treat the water with Prime or Amquel or a similar product.

This has more on ammonia:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-02/rhf/index.php

iloveswfish · Mar 18, 2015

i did a water change yesterday and tested my water today and this is what i got....plus have been only feeding the fish eod, and been giving zoo planton a couple of times a week... should i continue with my feeding schedule and can i start target feeding yet
ph=8.3
nitrite=0
nitate =0
dkh=9
ammonia=0
phos=0
calcium=440