Valid Ammonia Numbers from Hanna Test Kit

[Rskiba]

My question stems from something that I did not realize prior - the difference between ppm ammonia versus the unionized ppm of ammonia as pointed out in the Hannah instructions for their checker HI784. I ran the test as instructed to and got a reading of .13 ppm ammonia. Then they say to calculate the unionized ammonia, use the chart. I did and the value came out as .0048 ppm. Hanna states that it is this number that is critical for fish. Anything over .01 ppm is bad for fish. Am I understanding this correctly or did I miss something? I also have a RedSea test kit and it shows 0 - 0.20 ppm. Is my tank fish safe at this point?

 

[Rskiba]

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd pretty much focus on total ammonia and forget the unionized part which is highly pH dependent.

A reading of 0.13 ppm total ammonia is not, IMO, a concern.

 

[Rskiba]

What is the “high” value for total ammonia that is unsafe for reference? I realize there is always ammonia present otherwise the tank would not function as a system.

Thanks!

 

[brandon429]

Please post a full tank picture, I need it for cycle study threads. You have rare triangulation: digital meter folks have been happy with so far in test posts, a very common non digital meter reading fairly close, and we'll get to see surface area in tow and other factors from tank pic



How many days has this been running

 

[brandon429]

The one reliable thing in all cycling posts: how long has the tank had water in it and rocks, compared to the actionable dates shown on a common cycling chart. Did you dose 2ppm at the start

 

[Rskiba]

Please post a full tank picture, I need it for cycle study threads. You have rare triangulation: digital meter folks have been happy with so far in test posts, a very common non digital meter reading fairly close, and we'll get to see surface area in tow and other factors from tank pic



How many days has this been running

This is a brand new cycled tank - 3 weeks! No bio load from Fish or Coral yet.

 

[Rskiba]

The one reliable thing in all cycling posts: how long has the tank had water in it and rocks, compared to the actionable dates shown on a common cycling chart. Did you dose 2ppm at the start

I used Algae Barn's Nitrocycle system and that finished in 5 days. Since then (2 weeks) I have been dosing the KZ method using ZeoBak, ZeoStart and ZeoFood.

 

[Rskiba]

Nitrates are about 8 ppm.

 

[Rskiba]

I only plan to add two clownfish to the tank to start. Total water volume is 145 gallons.

 

[brandon429]

Hey just saw the timing updates. Yes it’s cycled, waiting longer cannot make the tank safer for fish keeping. That is an excellent cycling kit we’ve tracked about ten of those algae barn cycles I support them fully / isn’t it true that Fritz is part of their bottle bac kit


that brand tested fastest cycle / day one / in Dr. Reefs bottle bac study thread…week three is a shoe in. You have a perfect cycle all done.

 

[Garf]

I only plan to add two clownfish to the tank to start. Total water volume is 145 gallons.

Have you got a good quality place to get the clowns ? If your not going through the hassle of setting up and running a quarantine tank, that’s vital. If you are going to quarantine, pat yourself on the back

 

[Rskiba]

I am getting my clowns from Dr Reef already QT’d. He has had them in quarantine for a few weeks now.

 

[Rskiba]

Hey just saw the timing updates. Yes it’s cycled, waiting longer cannot make the tank safer for fish keeping. That is an excellent cycling kit we’ve tracked about ten of those algae barn cycles I support them fully / isn’t it true that Fritz is part of their bottle bac kit


that brand tested fastest cycle / day one / in Dr. Reefs bottle bac study thread…week three is a shoe in. You have a perfect cycle all done.

yes - Turbo 900 is the bottle bacteria in their “kit”!

 

[Garf]

I am getting my clowns from Dr Reef already QT’d. He has had them in quarantine for a few weeks now.

Keeps your lights nice and low, for as long as you can resist the urge to turn them up, lol.