water parameters

[Barker88]

I did a water test and my results were
ammonia. 25
PH 8.2
Nitrites. 25
Nitrates 5.0
When do I need to worry and what do you do to lower them

 

[Tahoe61]

How old is the system and what is the test kit?

 

[Barker88]

The system is about 6 months old and I am using a api test kit

 

[Cleo642]

Ammonia and nitrates should always be 0.

 

[Tahoe61]

Api test kits are prone to showing a detectable ammonia and nitrites, they are just not the best choice. If you have no reason to believe the tank should have a detectable ammonia and your corals and livestock are not showing signs of stress then I would chalk the results up to the api.
The Nitrate level is fine.

Do you have any reason to believe the tank might have some die off or decaying organic matter, such as you added more live rock or over fed?

 

[Barker88]

In the past week I have added more organic load so I could see those results what is some ways to lower them and what test kits are best

 

[vladandlilith]

When I use the API Ammonia test, I usually get a .25 reading on it. When I go back and use my Seachem test kit that tests for total and free ammonia, it turns out to be the non harmful type. I personally wouldn't worry about it unless your API kit shows a high number like1.0 ppm .

 

[Tahoe61]

If you have no sensitive corals then I would test again tomorrow, do not over feed and if the level goes up then I would do a water change.

Odds are the results are just the API, basically a false positive. Just watch for stress to corals and fish and other inverts.

Water changes are your first line of defense, after that Prime.

 

[Barker88]

How much water should I change I've heard 10% to 50 %

 

[Reefing Madness]

All depends on what you have in the tank so far, but a 50% change would do nicely, for the next 3 days in a row.

 

[Barker88]

I set up my tank with instant ocean salt but want to start a reef coral tank so what salt school I use when doing water changes

 

[Reefing Madness]

Instant Ocean is fine.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I wouldn't bother to keep testing for nitrite. It is not toxic in a marine system and never is high enough in an established tank to be a concern.

Ammonia is the toxic one to watch for in a newish tank.