Questions

[ShyKitty91]

Hello,
I came across something that stumped me, I never encountered this before.
I haven't added anything new to my tank for about a week but today I added 5ppm of ammonia.
After mixing it in I tested my water. I got a reading of 4.9ppm, close enough, and a pH of 8.6+.
My pH test only goes to 8.6 so I'm not sure what it actually is at.
pH was 8.2 last night when I tested, I try to test around 8 every night.
Until now it seemed to stay between 8 and 8.2.
Tap water is 7.6 but it has always raised up minutes after putting it in the tank.
I know aeration raises the pH a bit, explaining the 7.6 going up to 8.2.
But what could cause such a skyrocket? Could adding the ammonia do this?

 

[Bignose]

Ammonia is basic in that it is a proton accepter, so it could have bumped the pH. A difference of 0.4 pH units is pretty small really, and could even be something as small as a change in the temperature of the tank. Or a slight difference in drop size when you did the test. 0.4 pH units is well within the margin of error for the cheap commercial mass-produced tests that are sold for the aquarium hobby.

 

[ShyKitty91]

With the color the reading is though, I'd say it is probably well over 9.
I turned the heat up a bit too, it was only at 26 before and now at 28.
It just freaked me out to see a big change like that.

Suppose I just have to wait to see if it goes back down as the ammonia goes down.

 

[ShyKitty91]

I came across something else that stumped me. This time dealing with nitrates.
Do they go away? Just on their own? I didn't think they did without using chemicals, live plants, or water changes.

Here are the past 5 days of my log.
*Note: Yes, My tank is OD'd with ammonia. Blame my mom. (Never letting her dose it again. She thought the 5ppm I wrote on my instructions to her was 8ppm..)

Aug 07 NH3 0.6 NO2 1.6 NO3 30 pH 7.8
~ dosed to 4.9ppm NH3 (Left to visit my dad for the night.)
Aug 08 NH3 7.3+ *
Aug 08(PM) NO2 2.0 NO3 40 pH 8.5 **
*Note ~ mom wrote it was just a little darker then the last color but didn't test anything else
**Note ~ This is the pH reading I was asking about before
Aug 09 NH3 off chart NO2 3.3 NO3 160*** pH 8.0
~ added a dose of Big Als bio support, I figured there wouldn't be any harm in it
Aug 10 NH3 off chart NO2 3.3+ NO3 15*** pH 7.8
Aug 11 NH3 7.3 N02 3.3 NO3 10*** pH 8.0
***Note ~ NO3 skyrocketed then plumetted a crazy amount

I double tested some of these.
I am going to wait a few days to see if NH3 continues to go down. If it does, I'll leave it.
If it doesn't. I'll do a big water change and hope the NH3 levels are low enough to redose just to 5ppm.
As for the NO3, could the bio support eat the NO3 like that?

PS. It's my birthday.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Nitrates dont really go away. They can be consumed somewhat by plants but generally people see a rise. This is one reason we do waterchanges, to reduce the nitrates.

Looks like you have it figured out, keep us updated

 

[ShyKitty91]

Nitrates dont really go away. They can be consumed somewhat by plants but generally people see a rise. This is one reason we do waterchanges, to reduce the nitrates.

Looks like you have it figured out, keep us updated

Yes, I know. But the sudden drop is what I was curious about. What could of caused it.
160 to 15 is a big drop, and it's still dropping.

 

[XeroTolerance]

Do you have live plants? That is probably the problem.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Which test kit are you using? Be sure you shake the reagent bottles very, very, very well before using. I actually give mine a few raps on the table first because of some bizarre readings I got with it at one time. Doing the above seemed to cure the problem.

 

[XeroTolerance]

Which test kit are you using? Be sure you shake the reagent bottles very, very, very well before using. I actually give mine a few raps on the table first because of some bizarre readings I got with it at one time. Doing the above seemed to cure the problem.

Yeah I had the same problem because I didn't bang it on the table. In fact the first time I didn't it gave me false readings .

 

[ShyKitty91]

I don't have live plants.

And I do shake the bottles insanely well.. Actually hurt my wrist doing so the other day.
It's just odd to get false readings 4x in a row (I double tested both times, about an hour apart.)

For NO3 I use an API test. The rest are Hagen.

It's not really a problem yet, as I don't have fish.
When I do it might make me mad to get false readings though. Especially if the fish die because of it.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Yeah I wouldnt worry too much unless you see any patterns occuring

 

[ShyKitty91]

Alright, well I'll just keep recording the results.

 

[XeroTolerance]

Wow if you don't have live plant than that green one in your sig looks almost real. Unless if you're talking about a different tank.

 

[ShyKitty91]

Wow if you don't have live plant than that green one in your sig looks almost real. Unless if you're talking about a different tank.

If you actually saw that green plant out of photo you could easily tell its fake.
I like how it kinda glows under the light. Makes my whole tank look a little green.
It actually is for a reptile tank. But I think it pulls my tank together really nicely.

 

[XeroTolerance]

Yeah it does.