Ammonia in QT - suggestions?

[Neptune 555]

I am QT 3 fish in a 20 gallon tank since Thursday night Sep 23rd:. I added 3 smallish pieces of LR to my QT along with a HOB filter seeded with media from my DT. With all this media in my 20 gallon how am I showing ammonia? I dosed with prime last night as I noticed that the ammonia alert badge was not 100% yellow. I also purchased an ammonia test kit. I dosed 1/2 capful b/c the instructions said one capful did 50 gallons. Below are the results from the ammonia test for the QT and DT.

Do I dose more prime?
Do I add more media from my DT?
Do I cut bait and do my TT NOW?

I don't want to lose my new fish and I don't want ich in my ich free 180 reef.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I’d do a water change. It’s the adage, “when the problem is ‘pollute,’ the solution is ‘dilute.’”

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I’d do a water change. It’s the adage, “when the problem is ‘pollute,’ the solution is ‘dilute.’”

The solution to pollution is dilution….

 

[Neptune 555]

The solution to pollution is dilution….

Jay, Is it that my QT tank is polluted or that the ammonia readings are wrong? Second TTM and same issue. I keep dosing prime but I am still getting ammonia readings? Last time I did a water change... Now I think prime and ammonia readings are wrong.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Jay, Is it that my QT tank is polluted or that the ammonia readings are wrong? Second TTM and same issue. I keep dosing prime but I am still getting ammonia readings? Last time I did a water change... Now I think prime and ammonia readings are wrong.

The API ammonia kit is not very accurate, the colors are difficult to determine. Also, freshly mixed seawater has trace ammonia in it - Instant Ocean has as much as 0.20 ppm!

Managing ammonia is always tricky with TTM -

Jay

 

[Neptune 555]

The API ammonia kit is not very accurate, the colors are difficult to determine. Also, freshly mixed seawater has trace ammonia in it - Instant Ocean has as much as 0.20 ppm!

Managing ammonia is always tricky with TTM -

Jay

Jay, agree. I am adding my last set of fish to finish off my stocking list in my 180 reef. If I were not 99% sure I didn't have ich in my tank I would end this now! If I purchase fish again it will be from suppliers who do a full protocol of QT and ensure they are feeding first. Thank you for your patience it has been years since I did QT and TTM b/c after my fish go into my DT it is rare that they die...