amonia testing question.

[Alkad Mzu]

it had been a couple of days since i had tested the water params in
the 20 gallon(two gfs).
when i finally did I get the following.
nitrite: .25
am: .5
I was so supprised to see the results, i think its time for a filter
media change( aquaclear 500: foam, carbon, amonia, neutralizer.)
I dont dont change any filter media yet, but do a 30% water change
and add the following as water treatment.
Amquel: 10 ml
stress coat: 20 ml
wardley chlor out 3ml.
the above doses are not off the top of my head, they are based on the
instructions found on the back label of products.
10 hours later i run the tests again and get the following:
nitrite: 0.
amonia: a weird dark dull apple juice color not really matching any of
the colors on the test card.
can any one help me understand this. the fish look healthy very normal
I usually have to sneak up on them to make sure that they are not
moving simply in response to stimuli.



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[Private Pyle]

Isn't Amquel an ammonia removing product? If it is, then it has
likely locked up all the free ammonia into a non-harmful form called
ammonium. I had this problem once where an ammonia test kit kept
telling me that my ammonia level was off the chart. I was testing
TOTAL ammonia, but you don't need to worry about TOTAL, you only have
to worry about FREE ammonia. Total ammonia = ammonia + ammonium, Free
ammonia = ammonia only. Most test kits I've seen only test for TOTAL
ammonia, but I use one from Seachem that can test for either FREE or
TOTAL, based on the way you use it. Your test went that funky color
because of the Amquel is my guess. I learned the hard way that
ammonia removing liquids lock up free ammonia, but if there isn't any
free ammonia in the water, then they can lock up the oxygen in the
water, because the chemical is highly reactive and needs something to
bond to. I'm not a chemist, and I don't know the proper terms to
explain this any better, but I wish I could. Ammonium won't harm
fish, but using those liquids too much and locking up the oxygen is a
bad thing. I believe that the bio bugs will brake down the ammonium
in time, but it just takes longer than free ammonia. I only test for
total ammonia less than once a month, and test for Free ammonia and
nitrites weekly.

Is your tank still cycling because the nitrites and ammonia were high?

HTH

Alkad Mzu > wrote in message >...
> it had been a couple of days since i had tested the water params in
> the 20 gallon(two gfs).
> when i finally did I get the following.
> nitrite: .25
> am: .5
> I was so supprised to see the results, i think its time for a filter
> media change( aquaclear 500: foam, carbon, amonia, neutralizer.)
> I dont dont change any filter media yet, but do a 30% water change
> and add the following as water treatment.
> Amquel: 10 ml
> stress coat: 20 ml
> wardley chlor out 3ml.
> the above doses are not off the top of my head, they are based on the
> instructions found on the back label of products.
> 10 hours later i run the tests again and get the following:
> nitrite: 0.
> amonia: a weird dark dull apple juice color not really matching any of
> the colors on the test card.
> can any one help me understand this. the fish look healthy very normal
> I usually have to sneak up on them to make sure that they are not
> moving simply in response to stimuli.
>
>
>
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> http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
> ---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

[Donald K]

Private Pyle wrote:

> Isn't Amquel an ammonia removing product? If it is, then it has
> likely locked up all the free ammonia into a non-harmful form called
> ammonium

Close but no cigar...

AmQuel® - How It Works
http://www.kordon.com/kpd58.htm

aminomethanesulfonate not ammonium.

-D
--
"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy
enough people to make it worth the effort." -Herm Albright

[[email protected]]

keep changing the water every day... add 1 teaspoon salt per 5 gallons, no additives,
dissolve first, add slowly.

Alkad Mzu > wrote:

>it had been a couple of days since i had tested the water params in
>the 20 gallon(two gfs).
>when i finally did I get the following.
>nitrite: .25
>am: .5
>I was so supprised to see the results, i think its time for a filter
>media change( aquaclear 500: foam, carbon, amonia, neutralizer.)
>I dont dont change any filter media yet, but do a 30% water change
>and add the following as water treatment.
>Amquel: 10 ml
>stress coat: 20 ml
>wardley chlor out 3ml.
>the above doses are not off the top of my head, they are based on the
>instructions found on the back label of products.
>10 hours later i run the tests again and get the following:
>nitrite: 0.
>amonia: a weird dark dull apple juice color not really matching any of
>the colors on the test card.
>can any one help me understand this. the fish look healthy very normal
>I usually have to sneak up on them to make sure that they are not
>moving simply in response to stimuli.
>
>
>
>----== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
>http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
>---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption =---



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