NH4 level in a Running / Cycled Tank???

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S

stoner

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 16, 2010
8
0
0
Singapore
Hi guys...

I'm from Sunny Singapore and I'm been having this issue with my NH4 Level.

I've to admit that I'm as guilty as most hobbyist who over stock their tanks...

I've been recently closely monitoring my 6ft tank water perimeters as I'm been trying to lower the levels of NH4 and NO2 in my tank. Even so... having introduced a 15" ray recently.


Over here in Singapore, I tested my Tap water and found that it contains 0.5mg/l of NH4. I guess it's due to the chloramine being introduce by my local water plant.


TANK SUMMARY

Summary of my current setup:

Tank Size ~ 6 x 2.5 x 2.5ft
Sump ~ DIY.

LIFE STOCK:
Aros x 7pcs
Rays (MM & PRD SPs) x 4pcs
Tiger(Datnoid)x 4pcs
Marble Goby (Oxyeleotris Marmorata) x 1pc
FeiFong (flagtail prochilodus) x 1pc
Parrot Fish x 1pc

Feeding regime (Once a day):
Appox ~ 20 ++ Pcs of Market Prawns
2pcs of Cream dory.




PROBLEM / ISSUE

But even with new additional filtration system being set-up... The best water perimeters I'm getting are the same ever since I have set-up this tank are:

NH4 ~ 0.5mg/l (Never lower than this... / Same results as test done on Tap water)
NO2 ~ zero... (but faint at times after a day before of heavy feeding of Frogs etc...)
PH ~ Very Stable 6.5 - 6.6 (Using PIN-POINT PH Meter)

*SARA TEST KIT USED , KIT brought appox 13months ago


Notes:

~ My PH level is rather quite Stable... No huge droppings of PH even after a day before of Heavy Feeding. (Around PH 6.6 - 6.8)

~ There is hardly any "film" build up on the internal of my main tank. Hardly use the Magnetic Glass Cleaner nowadays.

~ No build up un-broken pockets of bubbles on the surface of the water.

~ No Coral Chips or Oyster Shell being used in my sump set-up.

~ Hardly requires use of Baking Soda the last 2 weeks... to maintain PH of 6.8.

~ Aros & Rays are breaking my bank ($) as they are feeding like Pigs!



QUESTION / DISCUSSION ~ WHY AMMONIA NH4 IS STILL @ 0.5mg/l??

~ Why am I not able to achieve ZERO Ammonia level? Insufficient bio filtration?

~ Has anyone managed to achieve ZERO Ammonia level in their set-up?




Sorry for the lengthy post... just wanting to have a clearer picture of my problem....

I'm open to discussion as I have no chemistry back ground and seriously speaking... I failed my science even since I schooling days...:p:D

Any Si - Fu (Master) care to advise... Feed back and input is very much appreciated. :cool::)

Many thanks in advance...:D

Stoner (From Sunny Singapore)
 
PH Reading...
IMG_0876.jpg


NH4 Reading (Water taken from Main Tank)
IMG_0872.jpg


NH4 Reading (Water Taken straight from TAP!)
SDC12855.jpg
 
0.5 ppm is a bit high and yes it is possible to get down to very very low concentrstions of ammonia even with ammonia in tap water. The good news is at your pH the bulk of the NH3/NH4+ is in the ammonium form. What bio media are you using in your sump?
 
Looks like insufficient bio-media to me. Try dosing Prime as a band-aid for the current problem. Add more biomedia and use Stability.

My 3ft tank has always show zero ammonia during every week test, I use API liquid test kit. Oh and yo bro, from SG too :)
 
lipadj46;4997036; said:
0.5 ppm is a bit high and yes it is possible to get down to very very low concentrstions of ammonia even with ammonia in tap water. The good news is at your pH the bulk of the NH3/NH4+ is in the ammonium form. What bio media are you using in your sump?
Click to expand...

Thanks... I do understand that @ 0.5mg/l at below PH of 7 is generally not harmful...

But I'm just working toward the magic figure of ZERO. Use to be able to hit that figure but.... since I recently brought my new SARA NH4 Kit, it seems to be able to detect very slight amounts of NH4.

Why do I say so? Old and earlier SARA NH4 kits comes with only 2 regents and the New batches/series comes packed with 3 regents instead.

With the old pack... reading are base yellow = Zero NH4, new pack readings are a slight tint greenish = very slight amount of NH4.


As for the bio media.... I have a few assorted types in the sump.

~ BioHome
~ Mr Aqua Ceramic Rings.
~ Kyorin Bio Media
~ Moving Media aka K1

I post a pic of my DIY sump setup later...
 
Spiritofthesoul;4997066; said:
Looks like insufficient bio-media to me. Try dosing Prime as a band-aid for the current problem. Add more biomedia and use Stability.

My 3ft tank has always show zero ammonia during every week test, I use API liquid test kit. Oh and yo bro, from SG too :)
Click to expand...

Prime... but prime only locks ammonia but does''nt remove it....:cry:

As for API Test kits... I have stop using them for many moons to come...

Why? because they provide inconsistent results..

For example:

Shake for 1 min ~ wait 5min = Zero NH4 reading.
Shake for 2 min ~ wait 5min = Slight NH4 reading.

Have since switch over to SARA, it may cost more... but it's really user friendly and provides rather accurate readings....:)

Will be looking into a mini Kabuki Shower project as a extended bio filtration than... I have about 36pcs of Bio house laying in my store...;)

Hai.... Currently chasing for the magic figure of ZERO NH4.

I guess my bio load is damn heavy....:WHOA::cry:
 
thats why it is temporary used as a band-aid. No reason to make your fish suffer from ammonia poisoning while you are in the progress of adding more bio media. Adding Prime would certainly convert the ammonia to ammonium.

And the NH3 test kit doesn't require shaking for 1~2 min.
 
Spiritofthesoul;4998390; said:
thats why it is temporary used as a band-aid. No reason to make your fish suffer from ammonia poisoning while you are in the progress of adding more bio media. Adding Prime would certainly convert the ammonia to ammonium.

And the NH3 test kit doesn't require shaking for 1~2 min.
Click to expand...

Noted,

But I'll stick to SERA for now...

Just dig out one big bag of Bio house... new project coming...up.:drool:

Stoner
 
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