Cannot get Ammonia to ZERO!
- Thread starter CrystaliZed
- Start date
Alright... I had some Eheim substrat left over so I used that. (the little grayish balls that were in these little netted bags) I cleaned these & replaced 1/2 of them w/ new ones...
I have 'em set up in my over-the-back filter as filter first from water flow, phos-loc pads w/ white side facing into water & then the Eheim substrat as last to hit the water flow b4 going back into the tank...
Also, comparing this w/ my sump for the 180... I understand the filtration process a bit more w/ the sump layout, but where exactly is the biomedia laying? I'm wondering, b/c besides the actual filters, such as the 3 socks that my 180 has or the white pads w/ carbon for my 55, what else should be cleaned on a normal basis and what should be left alone as far as good biomedia building up.
I have 'em set up in my over-the-back filter as filter first from water flow, phos-loc pads w/ white side facing into water & then the Eheim substrat as last to hit the water flow b4 going back into the tank...
Also, comparing this w/ my sump for the 180... I understand the filtration process a bit more w/ the sump layout, but where exactly is the biomedia laying? I'm wondering, b/c besides the actual filters, such as the 3 socks that my 180 has or the white pads w/ carbon for my 55, what else should be cleaned on a normal basis and what should be left alone as far as good biomedia building up.
Add the new media, Add stability. After about 3 days, if your ammonia is still not zero, repeat the step
Will look into the plant but wasnt sure how putting live plants into the tank would affect the aquarium... I've never managed a tank w/ live plants b4...
Yes, tap water has between .5-1.0 ammonia in it.
Obviously it would be a bit spendy to get 180 gallons of RO or Spring Water...
Let alone doing this again for my 55... Any suggestions since the tap water has it?
Yes, tap water has between .5-1.0 ammonia in it.
Obviously it would be a bit spendy to get 180 gallons of RO or Spring Water...
Let alone doing this again for my 55... Any suggestions since the tap water has it?
Yes, tap water has between .5-1.0 ammonia in it.
Just to be sure of your testing procedure and equipment, run a test on some bottled water.
It should read zero, if not, either your procedure or materials are at fault.
I`ve never had any experience with Stability, but from what I have read, it can`t hurt if you use it.
Keep dosing with Prime, or whatever to detoxify any ammonia present.
I would quit mucking around with your media.
Pick something and stick with it.
At ammonia levels posted, while not zero, they are not life threatening.
Prime can certainly handle that with no harm to your stock.
Are you on a well?
If not, have you checked your water sources quality report?
It should list levels of the treated water they send out.
Going the RO/DI route is your choice.
I wouldn`t do it unless my water was not useable for myself, let alone my fish.
If I was paying for clean water from my city, I would want to know why my water was in such poor condition.
If I was on a well, I would look into how I could make my water more useable for myself first, then acceptable for fish keeping.
$0.02
Just to be sure of your testing procedure and equipment, run a test on some bottled water.
It should read zero, if not, either your procedure or materials are at fault.
I`ve never had any experience with Stability, but from what I have read, it can`t hurt if you use it.
Keep dosing with Prime, or whatever to detoxify any ammonia present.
I would quit mucking around with your media.
Pick something and stick with it.
At ammonia levels posted, while not zero, they are not life threatening.
Prime can certainly handle that with no harm to your stock.
Are you on a well?
If not, have you checked your water sources quality report?
It should list levels of the treated water they send out.
Going the RO/DI route is your choice.
I wouldn`t do it unless my water was not useable for myself, let alone my fish.
If I was paying for clean water from my city, I would want to know why my water was in such poor condition.
If I was on a well, I would look into how I could make my water more useable for myself first, then acceptable for fish keeping.
$0.02
I've been leaving the media alone & quit doing water changes as obviously my tap water has the same amount of ammonia in it as the tank.
I tested bottle water & came up w/ no ammonia so the test kit is good.
I believe it's regular city water, I know some things run from well in our area such as our sprinkler system but not the tap water...
Guess I'm looking at getting RO water or another option... Not sure how to rid it completely and getting 180 gallons of RO water plus another 55 of it for the other tank I'm sure is gonna be around $70 in water, plus I really don't have a way of carrying 235 gallons of RO water... LOL!
I tested bottle water & came up w/ no ammonia so the test kit is good.
I believe it's regular city water, I know some things run from well in our area such as our sprinkler system but not the tap water...
Guess I'm looking at getting RO water or another option... Not sure how to rid it completely and getting 180 gallons of RO water plus another 55 of it for the other tank I'm sure is gonna be around $70 in water, plus I really don't have a way of carrying 235 gallons of RO water... LOL!
