hey guys so I got these little things that you hang in your tank and they tell you what your ammonia and ph levels are. I just looked and my ph is at 8.2 and my ammonia is at a safe level of .02ppm. is this ok or should I be worried what should I do Im freaking out!
I have 2 convicts, 2 Jack Dempseys, 3 Tiger barbs, 1 peacock eel and a ghost knife. the ammonia thing says <0.02ppm is safe the colors yellow, the the center is a light yellow so I think that means below .02
Are you taliking about one of those plastc things that stick inside the tank ? if so there useless get a testkit or take a sample of water to petsmart and have it tested
What size tank do you have. I don't know about the test things you are using but with the API liquid test kiit yellow is 0 the it goes into shades of green. I would retest using a liquid test kit.
Most tap water ph increases after you oxygenate it, as it releases the compressed C02 that is present in pressurized systems. For example, our water at the store comes out at 7.8 usually. If we put it in a bucket and aerate it overnight it goes up to 8.2. You filled your tank with 80% new water, it has created a ph jump given the buffering capacity of tap water is higher than tank water.
Ammonia is more toxic at greater ph ranges. If your ph was lower, say 6, it's not as toxic. That's why fish don't poison themselves right away during shipping.
I don't trust those in tank things. Try a liquid regeant test kit.
