How to get my water levels right?

[marysuchi]

Can someone help me? I’m new with saltwater tanks, I have some soft corals, 2 clownfish, bubble tip anemone, some hermit crabs and bumblebee snails (there not moving) with my freshwater if the snails are not moving is because something is wrong with my water, so I tested my water and on Monday my Ammonia was 0.25, today is 1.0, I added API Ammo lock, but my calcium is low, magnesium and phosphate high, how can I fix that? At my local fish pet store they told me to do a water change which I did, but I don’t see a change

 

[Gumbies R Us]

How did you cycle your tank, and are you using api to test for ammonia? I would ditch the API test kits as those are not accurate

How are you doing your water changes?

Also old is your tank?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Please also advise the tank size, please advise what filtration you have, and pictures of the tank really help too.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Stop the ammonia treatment products as they likely neither work nor are needed.

How are you measuring ammonia? There’s a good chance it is not accurate if the tank has been set up for a while.

 

[marysuchi]

How did you cycle your tank, and are you using api to test for ammonia? I would ditch the API test kits as those are not accurate

How are you doing your water changes?

Also old is your tank?

I made a mistake not doing my research before I got a saltwater tank, I went to the store to get a bigger tank for my freshwater fish, and ended up with a 20 gallon and everything for a saltwater tank because my husband wanted clownfish and more than one fish (I have a betta on my freshwater tank) tank is been up for two weeks, now after reading a lot, I know that’s not the right way, I feel really bad, and it’s my fault, but I just want to see if I can help by doing something to fix it.
I have API kit, for Ammonia, which one do you recommend?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So did you do anything to cycle it?

 

[marysuchi]

Please also advise the tank size, please advise what filtration you have, and pictures of the tank really help too.

20 gallon, Fluval AC30, I made a mistake by not doing my research before I got everything, (I have a freshwater tank and it was really easy for me, I though saltwater would be the same ) I couldn’t sleep trying to figure out why the ammonia went up fast and I remembered that I fed the fish with shrimp brine smh

 

[marysuchi]

Stop the ammonia treatment products as they likely neither work nor are needed.

How are you measuring ammonia? There’s a good chance it is not accurate if the tank has been set up for a while.

Understood! I’m using API Kit, Which one do you recommend? My tank is new (two weeks), long story short I made a mistake by not doing my research and I feel that ammonia went up really fast because a fed my fish with brine shrimp smh

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Understood! I’m using API Kit, Which one do you recommend? My tank is new (two weeks), long story short I made a mistake by not doing my research and I feel that ammonia went up really fast because a fed my fish with brine shrimp smh

So you never added any cycling bacteria? That may be a better immediate plan than a new ammonia kit. Fritz turbo start is strongly recommended in this scenario over Dr Tim’s because it works faster.

I’d get a Seachem alert badge for the tank, not an ammonia kit.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Saltwater is very different than freshwater, its more difficult and more to learn. This is a great beginner article, go very slow.

At only 2 weeks, the tank is still cycling, I think thats why you see ammonia increasing. Don't feed too much until the tank completes the cycle. Don't add anything else for a few weeks. Good luck

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

 

[Fish Fan]

So you never added any cycling bacteria? That may be a better immediate plan than a new ammonia kit. Fritz turbo start is strongly recommended in this scenario over Dr Tim’s because it works faster.

I’d get a Seachem alert badge for the tank, not an ammonia kit.

Plus 1 for the Fritz Turbo start, it seems to be the fastest acting of all these product, and a good fit for your situation.

Stop the ammonia treatment products as they likely neither work nor are needed.

How are you measuring ammonia? There’s a good chance it is not accurate if the tank has been set up for a while.

Maybe I'm mistaken, but don't products like Prime and AmmoLock actually show up as ammonia on an ammonia test? Could that be part of the OP's issue here? Obviously, I understand that fish in an uncycled tank will cause ammonia to rise rapidly, but do these other products complicate testing of ammonia?

Thank you!!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Understood! I’m using API Kit, Which one do you recommend? My tank is new (two weeks), long story short I made a mistake by not doing my research and I feel that ammonia went up really fast because a fed my fish with brine shrimp smh

Get Salifert, Hannas, Red Sea or Nyos kits. All are far more accurate than API

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Plus 1 for the Fritz Turbo start, it seems to be the fastest acting of all these product, and a good fit for your situation.


Maybe I'm mistaken, but don't products like Prime and AmmoLock actually show up as ammonia on an ammonia test? Could that be part of the OP's issue here? Obviously, I understand that fish in an uncycled tank will cause ammonia to rise rapidly, but do these other products complicate testing of ammonia?

Thank you!!

Prime and Ammo lock do nothing despite manufacturer claims. Don’t be fooled by them. Extensive careful testing by folks who know that they are doing shows no benefit.

 

[Fish Fan]

Prime and Ammo lock do nothing despite manufacturer claims. Don’t be fooled by them. Extensive careful testing by folks who know that they are doing shows no benefit.

I'm aware of the testing done that shows these products don't really bind up ammonia as claimed

My question was that don't these products cause a false high for ammonia when tested, potentially complicating gate IP's issue here? Obviously, I'm not ignoring the fish in an un-cycled tank causing elevated ammonia, but I'm wondering if the AmmoLock is partly to blame here.

Thank you for your help!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm aware of the testing done that shows these products don't really bind up ammonia as claimed

My question was that don't these products cause a false high for ammonia when tested, potentially complicating gate IP's issue here? Obviously, I'm not ignoring the fish in an un-cycled tank causing elevated ammonia, but I'm wondering if the AmmoLock is partly to blame here.

Thank you for your help!

It’s only claimed to be false if you assume there was none or less remaining in solution. I don’t think the claim is that measured levels go up, just that they do not go down due to “binding”.

 

[Fish Fan]

It’s only claimed to be false if you assume there was none or less remaining in solution. I don’t think the claim is that measured levels go up, just that they do not go down due to “binding”.

Thank you for clarifying!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You’re welcome. :)

 

[marysuchi]

Saltwater is very different than freshwater, its more difficult and more to learn. This is a great beginner article, go very slow.

At only 2 weeks, the tank is still cycling, I think thats why you see ammonia increasing. Don't feed too much until the tank completes the cycle. Don't add anything else for a few weeks. Good luck

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

I appreciate your help!

 

[marysuchi]

Understood! I’m using API Kit, Which one do you recommend? My tank is new (two weeks), long story short I made a mistake by not doing my research and I feel that ammonia went up really fast because a fed my fish with brine shrimp smh

So you never added any cycling bacteria? That may be a better immediate plan than a new ammonia kit. Fritz turbo start is strongly recommended in this scenario over Dr Tim’s because it works faster.

I’d get a Seachem alert badge for the tank, not an ammonia kit.

Helllo! I had surgery on Friday, but I sent my daughter to get the Fritz Turbo Start 900, I do have the Seachem alert badge and according to that one my ammonia is correct! I added the turbo start yesterday and this morning I noticed yellow spots on top of the rocks, I was reading that that’s a good sign, is that correct?

 

[marysuchi]

Understood! I’m using API Kit, Which one do you recommend? My tank is new (two weeks), long story short I made a mistake by not doing my research and I feel that ammonia went up really fast because a fed my fish with brine shrimp smh

Get Salifert, Hannas, Red Sea or Nyos kits. All are far more accurate than API

I do have Salifert for Magnesium and Potassium, I was reading that Hanna is good just for a few things, I’ll take a look on those that you said. Thanks