New Tank, And Just Done My First Check On Ammonia Etc

[jailawes]

Hello!

I've had my tank running for 4 days now (no fish) and i've just brought myself a test kit. These are the results so far:

PH = 7.6
Ammonia = 0.25
Nitrite = 0.25
Nitrate = 10

So from reading the forum's i've got to wait till ammonia and nitrite both drop to 0 and for the Nitrate to increase. From the instruction manuel of the kit it says anything under 40 is ok for the Nitrate, so as long as it rises from 10 but no higher than 40 its ok?

Just wanna check because i don't wanna lose any fish!

Thanks

 

[Torrean]

Hmm. Where did the ammonia come from? Do you understand what Nitrogen Cycle is?


take a look at this link if you haven't done so yet
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73365

 

[jailawes]

I've got live plants in there and i'm using a filter thats been used before (although its been washed under tap water by the previous owner). I'm having a look at the Nitrogen Cycle now, to get an understanding of it.

 

[windtrancer]

yeah, as long as nitrate are under 40 you're ok

 

[Torrean]

The live plants will help reduce ammonia, nI and nA but you'll still need a colonized filter.

Was the used filter left dry at any point or did it come straight from one tank to the other.

How well washed was it?

Did you replace the filter pad when you moved the filter?

You didn't answer my first question btw. Where did the ammonia come from?

Have you been putting food into an empty tank?

Have you been adding ammonia?

Is there latent ammonia in your water supply?

 

[jailawes]

Ok here the answers to those questions:

The filter was allowed to dry, when i brought the tank it was 2nd hand and the filter looked ok to me, just needed to be washed. The filter was cleaned well but was cleaned using tap water (before I found out that you shouldn't do it that way). I don't know where the ammonia has come from, i've not put any food in the tank. Only things present in the tank is the following: Sand (cleaned before putting in tank), air pump, live plants, that filter and some pieces of wood now (mopani - soaked in boiling water and for 24 hours before putting in tank).

I've not added any ammonia either. I also didnt replace the filter pad, just washed as stated above. So i'm not sure where its come from. I'm going to test my tap water for signs of ammonia to see if its present already.

I think thats everything you asked for.

 

[jailawes]

Ok.
I've just done a ammonia test on both my tap water and aquarium water and they both give the same result (0.25 ppm). Is that normal? I'm not sure what to do?

 

[Squid]

My first thoughts are that you should treat this as a brand new set-up and start a fishless cycle. Im not sure where the ammonia came from either. But with the filter being washed, and having no ammonia or fish added into the equation, then i would expect there to be little or no benficial bacteria.

If you took a test kit and used it on your tap water, this would be able to tell us if there what you are starting with from your water supply. The test kit is right, you do want the stats to be ammonia 0, nitrites 0 and nitrates sub 40 ideally 20, but if was to test my tap water, then this would be the case. However, this alone could not support the addition of new fish appropriately. You need to read the thread linked in the first reply to understand the cycle.

IF.. there was any beneficial bacteria left in the filter, then this would just speed up a fishless cycle. But doing a fishless cycle by adding ammonia would ensure the tank is ready.

yeah, as long as nitrate are under 40 you're ok

not true.. UNLESS the cycle has taken place.

Your alternative is to cycle the tank with fish, but most people on this forum prefer the more humane fishless cycle.

Please correct me someone if i've got the wrong end of the stick

Cheers
Squid

Ok.
I've just done a ammonia test on both my tap water and aquarium water and they both give the same result (0.25 ppm). Is that normal? I'm not sure what to do?

Just seen your reply whilst i was typing.

Hmm.. i have seen this before on this forum.. you could search to see what they did.

Some people have thought this before, but it was also to do with how they looked at the results.. try looking at the results in a different light. Mine you have to place the little test tube on the white card, and under a light for it to read more accurately.. ammonia of .25 in one light might read 0 in another.

Can i ask what test kit you are using ( i think you said it was a new one).. is it liquid, or strips?

Cheers
Squid

 

[jailawes]

Hello.

The test kit i'm using is this: http/www.petsmart.com/media/ps/images/pr...51947_41355.jpg

its liquid. It is really hard to tell the difference between 0 and 0.25 ppm. 0 is yellow and 0.25 is yellowish green. So i wonder if thats it. But my girlfriend reckons its more yellowish green to, so i'm not sure. Thanks for your advice.

Regards Jai

 

[Squid]

Thats the same as the one i bought..

I put the little tubes on the white part of the test results checker, and stand directly under the light.. with that liquid yellow, any other light or with a darker backing seems to make it look greener on ine too...

Good Luck

Squid

 

[jailawes]

Thanks for the help Squid!

 

[annka5]

Jai, I reckon that your tap-water is really unlikely to have ammonia and nitrite in it. Follow Squid's advice; if you're still unsure, see if your LFS will test a sample of tap water for you.
If they find ammonia and nitrite, I reckon you should get on to your water company as there should be none in UK drinking water supplies - fit for human consumption etc.
I reckon you need to do a fishless cycle - have a look at the pinned topics, as already suggested.

 

[jailawes]

Thanks.
I'm going to take a sample to my LFS and also i'm going to do a fishless cycle.

Thanks again

 

[ac106]

Jai, I reckon that your tap-water is really unlikely to have ammonia and nitrite in it. Follow Squid's advice; if you're still unsure, see if your LFS will test a sample of tap water for you.
If they find ammonia and nitrite, I reckon you should get on to your water company as there should be none in UK drinking water supplies - fit for human consumption etc.
I reckon you need to do a fishless cycle - have a look at the pinned topics, as already suggested.

I can't speak for the UK, but ammonia can be added to drinking water and still be safe for human consumption, at least in the US

My drinking water has added ammonia and chlorine in it. When speaking to the water commission, they said ammonia was used for several reasons, including as some type of preservation method and also a preventative with lead pipes.

My water has between .5PPM and 1.5 PPM of ammonia out of the tap. My cycled tanks handle this no problem but it threw off cycling tanks and unfiltered betta bowls.

So now I add ammo-lock or for all water changes and new tanks.

Supposedly it doesn’t disrupt the nitrogen cycle as it just removes the toxicity of the ammonia but not the ammonia itself. (I think anyway)