Stuck at 0.25 Ammonia

[maxemorris]

I’ve had my 33gal tank running for over 3 months, currently stocked with 3 fish. Probably 15lbs of caribsea liferock, caribsea live sand, and I added a 100gal bottle of Fritz turbo start for the cycle. I feed New Life pellets every day. The last two weeks I’ve tested my tank with the API master kit and keep coming up with 0.25 ammonia, but 0 nitrite and nitrate.

Does that mean I need more bacteria? Is that common after 3 months? The test kit expires in 2026, could the test be inaccurate?

 

[AetherealKnight]

Based on my experience and others, API test kits are only somewhat accurate. Try a different brand like Red Sea or bring a water sample to your local fish store so you can rule it out being test kit inaccuracy.

 

[Fish Fan]

I think that 0.25ppm ammonia with the API test kits is a pretty common false error. After three months, your tan should be well through the nitrogen cycle. I think you're fine to start slowly adding livestock if you haven't yet.

If you're nervous about the ammonia, take a sample of water to your local fish store to be tested with a non-API brand test kit.

 

[Garf]

I’ve had my 33gal tank running for over 3 months, currently stocked with 3 fish. Probably 15lbs of caribsea liferock, caribsea live sand, and I added a 100gal bottle of Fritz turbo start for the cycle. I feed New Life pellets every day. The last two weeks I’ve tested my tank with the API master kit and keep coming up with 0.25 ammonia, but 0 nitrite and nitrate.

Does that mean I need more bacteria? Is that common after 3 months? The test kit expires in 2026, could the test be inaccurate?

Nothing wrong with a tiny ammonia reading such as 0.25, happy reefing

 

[KrisReef]

Can you post a picture of the tank with these numbers?

Wondering why NO2-3 are at zero after 3 months?

 

[Red_Beard]

I have never in my life seen API read 0. Even in my 6 year old tank... agree w above likely false reading.

 

[Garf]

I have never in my life seen API read 0. Even in my 6 year old tank... agree w above likely false reading.

Nope, and it doesn't matter. I certainly have a flux of ammonia to consumers.

 

[maxemorris]

Can you post a picture of the tank with these numbers?

Wondering why NO2-3 are at zero after 3 months?

Waterbox 35.2 with 2 Picasso storms and a Midas Blenny. Trochus snails, cleaner shrimp, and tiger conch for CUC.

 

[maxemorris]

Mechanical filtration has dual filter socks and 4 foam pads

 

[Fish Fan]

Your tank looks great! I mean, maybe some expected "uglies", but looks fine to me otherwise. Fish and coral seem happy. I wouldn't worry about your "ammonia issue", I'd say you're doing fine.

 

[maxemorris]

Your tank looks great! I mean, maybe some expected "uglies", but looks fine to me otherwise. Fish and coral seem happy. I wouldn't worry about your "ammonia issue", I'd say you're doing fine.

Sounds good, thank you all for your help!

 

[Uncle99]

I’ve had my 33gal tank running for over 3 months, currently stocked with 3 fish. Probably 15lbs of caribsea liferock, caribsea live sand, and I added a 100gal bottle of Fritz turbo start for the cycle. I feed New Life pellets every day. The last two weeks I’ve tested my tank with the API master kit and keep coming up with 0.25 ammonia, but 0 nitrite and nitrate.

Does that mean I need more bacteria? Is that common after 3 months? The test kit expires in 2026, could the test be inaccurate?

API is not fine enough to read lower in the case of ammonia, or show at least trace pink for nitrate.

You have happy fish so the system is processing.

Forget ammonia and nitrite now and focus in on nitrate and phosphate management. The Hanna’s is great for both. Keep those two stable and in the traditional bands.

 

[fishywishy]

It’s 0. After the ammonia gets down to zero on api test it looks green again for some reason.

 

[Fish Fan]

Nope, and it doesn't matter. I certainly have a flux of ammonia to consumers.

I think this is a true statement. Even if you did have some ammonia, it can actually be beneficial to your corals. Either way, clearly not enough ammonia here to be hurting anything, regardless of test results.

 

[Garf]

API is not fine enough to read lower in the case of ammonia, or show at least trace pink for nitrate.

You have happy fish so the system is processing.

Forget ammonia and nitrite now and focus in on nitrate and phosphate management. The Hanna’s is great for both. Keep those two stable and in the traditional bands.

Ammonia has certainly been given a bad rap. I tried explaining that a few few years back to @brandon429 but some odd stuff happened. I love Brandons enthusiasm :)

 

[Red_Beard]

Nope, and it doesn't matter. I certainly have a flux of ammonia to consumers.

For reals. I have been dosing ammonia too for the last few months even. Too many consumers.

Nice looking tank OP, looks like you are off to a good start!

 

[Lasse]

You measure total ammonia (NH4 + NH3) Its only the NH3 part that can be troublesome. If you have normal pH, temperature and salinity - the NH3 part is only around 5 - 10 % of the total read concentration. Even if 0.25 mg/L should be a true reading (with I doubt it is) - you are not in danger zone of NH3. Most of these total ammonia tests have false reading of around 0.05 - 0.25 when the concentration is around 0. A single test say nothing - you have to look at a trend.

As @Garf stated - even if there is a concentration of 0.25 mg/L of NH4/NH3 your safe and it could also benifitt your system.

If you want to convert your reading of total ammonia (NH4/NH3) into dangerous NH3 - please use this calculator

Sincerely Lasse

 

[maxemorris]

You measure total ammonia (NH4 + NH3) Its only the NH3 part that can be troublesome. If you have normal pH, temperature and salinity - the NH3 part is only around 5 - 10 % of the total read concentration. Even if 0.25 mg/L should be a true reading (with I doubt it is) - you are not in danger zone of NH3. Most of these total ammonia tests have false reading of around 0.05 - 0.25 when the concentration is around 0. A single test say nothing - you have to look at a trend.

As @Garf stated - even if there is a concentration of 0.25 mg/L of NH4/NH3 your safe and it could also benifitt your system.

If you want to convert your reading of total ammonia (NH4/NH3) into dangerous NH3 - please use this calculator

Sincerely Lasse

Makes sense, thank you for the explanation!