Red Sea ammonia test

[micl10]

3 weeks ago, I just added fish to my tank. As expected, it triggered a mini-cycle. My ammonia and nitrite became non-zero.
Today, i'm my nitrite is a definitive zero, but weirdly, my ammonia may not be.

It's definitely less than the first "non-zero" color in the color card, but also not the neon yellow the "zero" level should represent. I would categorize it as dirty yellow, rather than any tint of green. I did the same test for my water in my mixing tank, and I do get that neon yellow.

So I'm confused by this, I feel like my ammonia should be 0 by now. It's a JBJ 20g nano, and one of the sections of the back is just dedicated with marine pure balls.

I guess my question is, anyone else use the red sea ammonia test? Do you also get more "dirty" yellow, rather than neon yellow?

The primary reason i'm concerned is that I ordered an anemone, and they sent it to me early (instead of next week, i received it yesterday). So i'm just a bit concerned if that bit of ammonia is impacting the acclimation process. The BTA is currently hiding in a cave right now, and I understand this is normal, but I also just want to make sure there's no additional stress that might impact the process.

I've been doing 15% water changes for about 3 days now, and i'm getting that color consistently.

 

[Garf]

Non zero is not specifically bad, although I’m sure peeps will have misgivings about adding a BTA to a new tank.

 

[MnFish1]

3 weeks ago, I just added fish to my tank. As expected, it triggered a mini-cycle. My ammonia and nitrite became non-zero.
Today, i'm my nitrite is a definitive zero, but weirdly, my ammonia may not be.

It's definitely less than the first "non-zero" color in the color card, but also not the neon yellow the "zero" level should represent. I would categorize it as dirty yellow, rather than any tint of green. I did the same test for my water in my mixing tank, and I do get that neon yellow.

So I'm confused by this, I feel like my ammonia should be 0 by now. It's a JBJ 20g nano, and one of the sections of the back is just dedicated with marine pure balls.

I guess my question is, anyone else use the red sea ammonia test? Do you also get more "dirty" yellow, rather than neon yellow?

The primary reason i'm concerned is that I ordered an anemone, and they sent it to me early (instead of next week, i received it yesterday). So i'm just a bit concerned if that bit of ammonia is impacting the acclimation process. The BTA is currently hiding in a cave right now, and I understand this is normal, but I also just want to make sure there's no additional stress that might impact the process.

I've been doing 15% water changes for about 3 days now, and i'm getting that color consistently.

I would stop doing water changes - and I would double check your test - i.e. - a totally different brand etc. Ammonia itself may be meaningless - (total ammonia) - depending on pH, temperature, salinity. Free ammonia is toxic. Most of the tests used measure 'total ammonia'. There are also calculators that can help decide how much of xxx you're actually removing. My guess is you're only removing a small fraction of the ammonia. Leave it - and keep testing. You can also get a Seachem alert - to test for free ammonia. Hope this helps

 

[micl10]

I would stop doing water changes - and I would double check your test - i.e. - a totally different brand etc. Ammonia itself may be meaningless - (total ammonia) - depending on pH, temperature, salinity. Free ammonia is toxic. Most of the tests used measure 'total ammonia'. There are also calculators that can help decide how much of xxx you're actually removing. My guess is you're only removing a small fraction of the ammonia. Leave it - and keep testing. You can also get a Seachem alert - to test for free ammonia. Hope this helps

Thanks, I'll try seachem alert. Is there a reason why you recommend not doing water change? Is it because it's useless, or you think it's actually harmful?

 

[Dan_P]

3 weeks ago, I just added fish to my tank. As expected, it triggered a mini-cycle. My ammonia and nitrite became non-zero.
Today, i'm my nitrite is a definitive zero, but weirdly, my ammonia may not be.

It's definitely less than the first "non-zero" color in the color card, but also not the neon yellow the "zero" level should represent. I would categorize it as dirty yellow, rather than any tint of green. I did the same test for my water in my mixing tank, and I do get that neon yellow.

So I'm confused by this, I feel like my ammonia should be 0 by now. It's a JBJ 20g nano, and one of the sections of the back is just dedicated with marine pure balls.

I guess my question is, anyone else use the red sea ammonia test? Do you also get more "dirty" yellow, rather than neon yellow?

The primary reason i'm concerned is that I ordered an anemone, and they sent it to me early (instead of next week, i received it yesterday). So i'm just a bit concerned if that bit of ammonia is impacting the acclimation process. The BTA is currently hiding in a cave right now, and I understand this is normal, but I also just want to make sure there's no additional stress that might impact the process.

I've been doing 15% water changes for about 3 days now, and i'm getting that color consistently.

Don’t worry about. It is difficult to judge zero with tests. Also, the test measures total ammonia. Use this calculator to estimate the free ammonia present with your total ammonia results.

Free Ammonia Calculator

Aquarium calculator; Estimate the free (un-ionized) ammonia (NH3) concentration, given the total ammonia concentration.

www.hamzasreef.com

 

[micl10]

Don’t worry about. It is difficult to judge zero with tests. Also, the test measures total ammonia. Use this calculator to estimate the free ammonia present with your total ammonia results.

Free Ammonia Calculator

Aquarium calculator; Estimate the free (un-ionized) ammonia (NH3) concentration, given the total ammonia concentration.

www.hamzasreef.com

i put in:
NH3+NH3: 0.1 (guestimate: more than yellow, less than 0.2 green)
Salinity: 34.1
ph: 8.1
temp: 79

NH3 Concentration:
0.0061

I assume that's not worth worrying about?

I guess my next thing to panic about is how to convince the anemone to move out of the cave.

 

[Dan_P]

i put in:
NH3+NH3: 0.1 (guestimate: more than yellow, less than 0.2 green)
Salinity: 34.1
ph: 8.1
temp: 79

NH3 Concentration:
0.0061

I assume that's not worth worrying about?

I guess my next thing to panic about is how to convince the anemone to move out of the cave.

You might check on the total ammonia for a little longer but not worry about it.

 

[MnFish1]

Thanks, I'll try seachem alert. Is there a reason why you recommend not doing water change? Is it because it's useless, or you think it's actually harmful?

1. A water change can be stressful
2. I don't see a reason why to do it?

 

[micl10]

1. A water change can be stressful
2. I don't see a reason why to do it?

Gotcha. Thanks

I got the seachem alert for 1 hour and I'm getting a very clear yellow (less than .02)

Sounds like I'm stressing for no reason

 

[micl10]

I guess patience paid off. He's still 50% shaded, but he's getting a some confidence to step outside. I was hoping he'd stick his foot on that hole instead of the cave and it'll be the perfect spot, but at least he's in front of the tank. So I'm gonna count my blessings.