Salifert Ammonia Test Question

[FJReck63]

Hi fellow Reefers!
Along the same lines of my previous Salifert Nitrate test question, at what point on the Salifert Ammonia test color chart should I be concerned for a partial water change?
Right now, my EVO 13.5 is going along nicely, the 2 little clowns (Fran and Ollie) are thriving and eating well.... I just want to know what result/color on the Salifert ammonia card triggers too much pee and a water change....

Thanks!
Franz in NJ

 

[Garf]

Hi fellow Reefers!
Along the same lines of my previous Salifert Nitrate test question, at what point on the Salifert Ammonia test color chart should I be concerned for a partial water change?
Right now, my EVO 13.5 is going along nicely, the 2 little clowns (Fran and Ollie) are thriving and eating well.... I just want to know what result/color on the Salifert ammonia card triggers too much pee and a water change....

Thanks!
Franz in NJ

You shouldn’t be getting a reading above zero (ish), if the tank is cycled.

 

[Muffin87]

You should have 0 NH3+NH4, and 0 NO2. Unless that's a quarantine tank.
Have you cycled the tank?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is this an established aquarium?

 

[FJReck63]

You shouldn’t be getting a reading above zero (ish), if the tank is cycled.

So if I'm seeing 0.15 color, should I be doing a partial water change? The tank is 5 -6 weeks old at this point, and I used Dr. Tim's One and Only to kick start it...
Thanks!

Franz in NJ

 

[FJReck63]

You should have 0 NH3+NH4, and 0 NO2. Unless that's a quarantine tank.
Have you cycled the tank?

5 weeks old, started with Dr. Tim's One and Only...Not a QT...
Thanks!
Franz in NJ

 

[FJReck63]

Is this an established aquarium?

5 weeks old EVO 13.5, started with Dr. Tim's One and Only....

Thanks!
Franz in NJ

 

[Garf]

So if I'm seeing 0.15 color, should I be doing a partial water change? The tank is 5 -6 weeks old at this point, and I used Dr. Tim's One and Only to kick start it...
Thanks!

Franz in NJ

Not necessary to do a water change for a reading that low. However, I like regular partial water changes anyway. What’s the nitrate reading?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree that 0.15 ppm total ammonia is not high enough to worry about.

 

[BoneDoc]

Mine never went bellow that and it was perfectly cycled.

 

[FJReck63]

Not necessary to do a water change for a reading that low. However, I like regular partial water changes anyway. What’s the nitrate reading?

Nitrate was 5 on the Salifert card...

Franz in NJ

 

[FJReck63]

I agree that 0.15 ppm total ammonia is not high enough to worry about.

Cool! So going forward, at what point on the Salifert Ammonia test card should I be concerned and ready to do a partial water change?
Thanks!
Franz in NJ

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Cool! So going forward, at what point on the Salifert Ammonia test card should I be concerned and ready to do a partial water change?
Thanks!
Franz in NJ

Ammonia and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Ammonia Concentration Guidelines
Because ammonia's toxic effects appear at levels significantly below those that are acutely lethal (0.09 to 3.35 ppm NH3-N or 1.3 to 50 ppm total NH4-N at pH 8.2), and because some organisms in a reef aquarium may be more sensitive than the few organisms that have been carefully studied, it is prudent to err on the side of caution when deciding what concentrations of ammonia to allow in a reef aquarium or related system.

My suggestion is to take some sort of corrective action if the total ammonia rises above 0.1 ppm. This suggestion is also made by Stephen Spotte in his authoritative text, Captive Seawater Fishes.6 Values in excess of 0.25 ppm total ammonia may require immediate treatment, preferably involving removal of all delicate (ammonia sensitive) organisms from the water containing the ammonia. Some of the possible actions to take are detailed in the following sections listed below.