Problem measuring ammonia

[DFandango]

Hey guys!


I’ve been cycling a new 20-gallon tank for 7 days now, and I’m a bit confused about my ammonia readings.


My setup:

• Real Reef rock
• Ocean Direct “live” sand
• AquaForest Life Bio Fil filter media
• ARKA Special Blend to seed the tank with bacteria, as recommended by my local fish store

I haven’t detected any ammonia so far. I started testing daily on day 3, and since I wasn’t getting any readings, I ghost-fed a large amount of food on day 1 and added a dead mussel on day 3.

By day 7, the mussel had started to decompose and smell pretty bad, so I removed it. I tested for ammonia again, but the result was still 0 ppm.

Yesterday evening, I decided to dose ammonium chloride to 2 ppm to see if that would give me a reading. However, when I tested again just 15 minutes later, the result was still 0 ppm.

The strange thing is that I’m detecting a small amount of nitrite (although it could be 0 ppm) and a decent amount of nitrate, so I’m wondering whether the cycle is actually progressing or if something else is going on.

Could my Salifert ammonia test kit be faulty, even though it’s still within its expiration date? Or is it possible that the bacteria are processing the ammonia that quickly? Personally i don’t really think that’s possible considering my set up.

Before spending more money on another test kit, I’d love to hear your recommendations. Which ammonia test kit would you recommend for a saltwater tank, and has anyone experienced something similar?


Thanks in advance!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Did you use wet live rock to start your tank? If you used wet live rock, the rocks are already cycled and processing the ammonia, this is the reason to buy wet live rocks, because you can stock the tank right away, compared to using dry rock which yuo need to wait for the cycle to complete.

So if you have wet live rocks and have been adding ammonia, then the nitrates should show a number, have you tested nitrates?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

If you used live rock, then your tank is cycled.

I would also be curious to know your nitrate levels.

 

[DFandango]

Did you use wet live rock to start your tank? If you used wet live rock, the rocks are already cycled and processing the ammonia, this is the reason to buy wet live rocks, because you can stock the tank right away, compared to using dry rock which yuo need to wait for the cycle to complete.

So if you have wet live rocks and have been adding ammonia, then the nitrates should show a number, have you tested nitrates?

Started with dry real reef rock! That’s why I was weirded out by not seeing any ammonia (no way dry rock cycles after 7 days) Just got back from my LFS to try a different test, turns out the salifert test was faulty. The new test shows me a clear 2 ppm ammonia right now which is to be expected after dosing the ammonia chloride. Nitrite is around 0.25 ppm and nitrates are at 2 so bacteria is actively working. With the ammonia finally testing correctly I can wait and check again tomorrow!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Started with dry real reef rock! That’s why I was weirded out by not seeing any ammonia (no way dry rock cycles after 7 days) Just got back from my LFS to try a different test, turns out the salifert test was faulty. The new test shows me a clear 2 ppm ammonia right now which is to be expected after dosing the ammonia chloride. Nitrite is around 0.25 ppm and nitrates are at 2 so bacteria is actively working. With the ammonia finally testing correctly I can wait and check again tomorrow!

Glad you were able to find out the issue!

 

[DFandango]

Cheers man! Still a bit disappointed by the Salifert test. Maybe it’s because it tests total ammonia? I’m a bit confused because the packaging and reactant all says NH3, but the color chart says NH3+NH4… could it be that it didn’t have enough total ammonia to react to? PH is at 8.2

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Cheers man! Still a bit disappointed by the Salifert test. Maybe it’s because it tests total ammonia? I’m a bit confused because the packaging and reactant all says NH3, but the color chart says NH3+NH4… could it be that it didn’t have enough total ammonia to react to? PH is at 8.2

All kits test total ammonia, and it is the appropriate number to note in posts at reef2reef.

It’s likely that the method just never generated ammonia faster than bacteria took it up.

Do you have a nitrate kit?

 

[DFandango]

All kits test total ammonia, and it is the appropriate number to note in posts at reef2reef.

It’s likely that the method just never generated ammonia faster than bacteria took it up.

Do you have a nitrate kit?

Aah check! Then I can confidently say the salifert test was faulty. Yesterday it still gave me a 0 ppm ammonia reading, 15 minutes after dosing to 2 ppm. Nitrates are at 0,5 ppm right now and hopefully climbing :)