Ammonia in Copper power

[Mr Phu]

Plz Help today the Ammonia Alert is a little bit Darker like a Picture below after i raising Copper Power from 1.46 to 1.76 ppm . So i have use Hanna Check around 0.36 TAN after that i have change 15% water and dosing Prime and Seachem Stability bottle.
The color on this alert is that normal in Copper tank ?
Is that Ammonia raising cause by raise up Copper level ?
Is copper interferes with Hanna checker ? I use Hanna checker TAN

 

[vetteguy53081]

I do not rely on this badge

Plz Help today the Ammonia Alert is a little bit Darker like a Picture below after i raising Copper Power from 1.46 to 1.76 ppm . So i have use Hanna Check around 0.36 TAN after that i have change 15% water and dosing Prime and Seachem Stability bottle.
The color on this alert is that normal in Copper tank ?
Is that Ammonia raising cause by raise up Copper level ?
Is copper interferes with Hanna checker ? I use Hanna checker TAN

especially when in copper and encourage you to have water tested at an LFS that does not use API kits and see what level they come up with
If high change water and mix new water with coppersafe to match your current copper readings

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Plz Help today the Ammonia Alert is a little bit Darker like a Picture below after i raising Copper Power from 1.46 to 1.76 ppm . So i have use Hanna Check around 0.36 TAN after that i have change 15% water and dosing Prime and Seachem Stability bottle.
The color on this alert is that normal in Copper tank ?
Is that Ammonia raising cause by raise up Copper level ?
Is copper interferes with Hanna checker ? I use Hanna checker TAN

That is probably ammonia from the copper power. I prefer to not use any reducing agents when dosing amine chelated copper products though.

 

[Mr Phu]

That is probably ammonia from the copper power. I prefer to not use any reducing agents when dosing amine chelated copper products though.

So what should i do now ? How can i reduce the ammonia ?

 

[MnFish1]

The ammonia is likely a false positive. Second Prime will continue to give a false reading for ammonia - and many do not recommend its use with copper.

Water changes with the appropriate level of copper is the solution.

 

[Mr Phu]

That is probably ammonia from the copper power. I prefer to not use any reducing agents when dosing amine chelated copper products though.

So you mean the Copper power contains Ammonia ??

 

[Mr Phu]

The ammonia is likely a false positive. Second Prime will continue to give a false reading for ammonia - and many do not recommend its use with copper.

Water changes with the appropriate level of copper is the solution.

Thanks

 

[Mr Phu]

Thanks

The ammonia is likely a false positive. Second Prime will continue to give a false reading for ammonia - and many do not recommend its use with copper.

Water changes with the appropriate level of copper is the solution.

So Should i dose more bacterial bottles o make the bio load stronger ? I use Seachem Stability and Matrix

 

[MnFish1]

So Should i dose more bacterial bottles o make the bio load stronger ? I use Seachem Stability and Matrix

I would consider it. You can also get another brand of ammonia test to double check your alert badge.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So you mean the Copper power contains Ammonia ??

Yes - ammonia (amine) is used to bind with the copper to make it less toxic to the fish. However, that ammonia is picked up by most ammonia tests. It is non toxic in its bound form though. What I do when using copper power or coppersafe is to not worry about ammonia readings less that 0.50 ppm. Any ammonia higher than that is ammonia produced by the fish and is toxic. So - if I measure 0.75 ppm, I estimate that 0.25 ppm of that value is toxic.

 

[Mr Phu]

Yes - ammonia (amine) is used to bind with the copper to make it less toxic to the fish. However, that ammonia is picked up by most ammonia tests. It is non toxic in its bound form though. What I do when using copper power or coppersafe is to not worry about ammonia readings less that 0.50 ppm. Any ammonia higher than that is ammonia produced by the fish and is toxic. So - if I measure 0.75 ppm, I estimate that 0.25 ppm of that value is toxic

You mean you test By Hanna checker ( TAN ) ??

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

You mean you test By Hanna checker ( TAN ) ??

Yes - that test uses the salicylate method, same as the Hach test that I use. It measures total ammonia, including bound amines in copper products.

 

[Mr Phu]

Yes - that test uses the salicylate method, same as the Hach test that I use. It measures total ammonia, including bound amines in copper products.

Yes - that test uses the salicylate method, same as the Hach test that I use. It measures total ammonia, including bound amines in copper products.

So can i dose more Bacterial Bottle ( seachem Stability ) on Copper tank for stronger Bio ?

 

[Mr Phu]

Yes - that test uses the salicylate method, same as the Hach test that I use. It measures total ammonia, including bound amines in copper products.

So now my Hanna checker is 0.61 ppm that mean Ammonia toxic 0.11 ppm TAN that safety for fish right ?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So now my Hanna checker is 0.61 ppm that mean Ammonia toxic 0.11 ppm TAN that safety for fish right ?

Yes, but that's just a bit above the background ammonia level from the copper, so not in the danger zone (yet). I wouldn't worry until the ammonia level rises to 0.75 or more (at a pH of above 8.0). As you may know, the toxicity of ammonia for the fish is dependent on the pH - the higher the pH, the more toxic the ammonia will be.

 

[Mr Phu]

Thanks that a great info for me !

Yes, but that's just a bit above the background ammonia level from the copper, so not in the danger zone (yet). I wouldn't worry until the ammonia level rises to 0.75 or more (at a pH of above 8.0). As you may know, the toxicity of ammonia for the fish is dependent on the pH - the higher the pH, the more toxic the ammonia will be.

 

[Mr Phu]

Any affect if now i dosing bacterial bottle ????
I usually dosing bacterial bottle ( Seachdm Stability ) to make the Bio load ammonia better in copper tank

Yes, but that's just a bit above the background ammonia level from the copper, so not in the danger zone (yet). I wouldn't worry until the ammonia level rises to 0.75 or more (at a pH of above 8.0). As you may know, the toxicity of ammonia for the fish is dependent on the pH - the higher the pH, the more toxic the ammonia will be.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Any affect if now i dosing bacterial bottle ????
I usually dosing bacterial bottle ( Seachdm Stability ) to make the Bio load ammonia better in copper tank

I’m not sure if the bottled bacteria reduces the level of copper bound ammonia, but it will help with the free ammonia. It takes a bit of time to work though, at least a day. Also, if the ammonia level is rising, it may appear to not be working.

 

[Mr Phu]

I’m not sure if the bottled bacteria reduces the level of copper bound ammonia, but it will help with the free ammonia. It takes a bit of time to work though, at least a day. Also, if the ammonia level is rising, it may appear to not be working.

Thanks for your Info !
Why Bacterial not working if Ammonia level is rising ?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for your Info !
Why Bacterial not working if Ammonia level is rising ?

The bacteria can take a few days to become activated. Or, the ammonia is building up faster than that amount of bacteria can assimilate.