Water Test Results: Need Opinions

octavian · 12-11-2005, 10:01 PM

Used Saltwater Master Test Kit from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals.

pH: 7.8
ammonia: .25ppm
nitrite: difficult to tell. I estimated .10ppm or less
nitrate: 10ppm

1 month old aquarium, UV sterilizer, ehiem canister, live sand, mixed live/dead rock.

Are these readings OK?

ANother question...which breaks down first, nitrate or nitrite?

blue_eyes53813 · 12-11-2005, 10:16 PM

Give it a couple more weeks, Nitrites will break down first.

Woodstock · 12-11-2005, 10:45 PM

Ammonia --> nitrItes --> nitrAtes

Travis · 12-11-2005, 10:49 PM

I used to always get a false positive of .25 ammonia with the aquarium pharm. test kits... wait until your nitrite is clearly zero now and you should be good to go.

BoomerD · 12-12-2005, 04:06 AM

Also, invest in a few Salifert test kits. MUCH more reliable.

12-12-2005, 07:35 PM

This thread really interests me because I've been using the Mardel ammonia test strips and am consistently getting 0.25 ammonia. My tank is a 2.5 gal picoreef; I added the live rock a month ago. No nitrite, no nitrate, but nothing---not even water changes---makes the ammonia zero out. I've gotten zero ammonia only a couple of times since setting up the tank. All other days it's 0.25. It really bugs me. Considering there's no nitrite or nitrate, that everything except the ammonia is perfect...could I, too, be getting a false positive? (I've added no nutrient to the tank. The algae doesn't need feeding!

)

DaveK · 12-12-2005, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gymshoes

This thread really interests me because I've been using the Mardel ammonia test strips and am consistently getting 0.25 ammonia. ...

Yep, this can occur with some test kits. Try another one. I like Sailfret for budget test kits. Lamotte for lab quality and if money is no object.

gussy · 12-18-2005, 03:10 PM

I think its a good idea to have two brands of test kit. I have RedSea and Salifert. If I get a weird reading on one, I'll try to do a test using the other brand to verify. Happens several times.

12-11-2005, 10:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
octavian Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 83 View Gallery Karma Komment	Water Test Results: Need Opinions Used Saltwater Master Test Kit from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. pH: 7.8 ammonia: .25ppm nitrite: difficult to tell. I estimated .10ppm or less nitrate: 10ppm 1 month old aquarium, UV sterilizer, ehiem canister, live sand, mixed live/dead rock. Are these readings OK? ANother question...which breaks down first, nitrate or nitrite?

12-11-2005, 10:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 7,233 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Water Test Results: Need Opinions Give it a couple more weeks, Nitrites will break down first.

12-11-2005, 10:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 24,148 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Water Test Results: Need Opinions Ammonia --> nitrItes --> nitrAtes __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

12-11-2005, 10:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,727 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Water Test Results: Need Opinions I used to always get a false positive of .25 ammonia with the aquarium pharm. test kits... wait until your nitrite is clearly zero now and you should be good to go. __________________ Help build the Encyclopedia of ReefKeeping Find over 1400 Reef Aquarium Articles at The Reef Aquarium Index

12-12-2005, 04:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,637 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Test Results: Need Opinions Also, invest in a few Salifert test kits. MUCH more reliable. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

12-12-2005, 07:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Gymshoes Posts: n/a View Gallery	Re: Water Test Results: Need Opinions This thread really interests me because I've been using the Mardel ammonia test strips and am consistently getting 0.25 ammonia. My tank is a 2.5 gal picoreef; I added the live rock a month ago. No nitrite, no nitrate, but nothing---not even water changes---makes the ammonia zero out. I've gotten zero ammonia only a couple of times since setting up the tank. All other days it's 0.25. It really bugs me. Considering there's no nitrite or nitrate, that everything except the ammonia is perfect...could I, too, be getting a false positive? (I've added no nutrient to the tank. The algae doesn't need feeding! )

12-18-2005, 03:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
gussy Torch coral Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 579 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Test Results: Need Opinions I think its a good idea to have two brands of test kit. I have RedSea and Salifert. If I get a weird reading on one, I'll try to do a test using the other brand to verify. Happens several times.

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