ammonia reading in my tank

[lesleyanndunn]

I tested my water today using API liquid tests, I ran the tests twice to make sure of the results.

It showed an ammonia reading of 0.25, nitrite 0, and nitrate 5, temp 25/26 ph 7.6, filter sponges rinsed in tank water every 2 weeks,
50% water change done weekly, all uneaten food removed after an hr or so

I think its due to changing to brackish, and on Friday when I do my main water change, I think I accidently added too much salt..

Got interrupted and couldnt remember how much I had added, wasnt a overly large amount, but maybe enough to affect the filter.

Theres been no other changes in the tank, other than 4 small shrimp added on Sunday, they are all now gone, GSP had them for dinner.

No other fish in the tank but the GSP, hes been in there about 4 weeks, and tank was fully cycled before he went into it.

I cant really do a water change now, as Ive ran out of water conditioner. Getting it tomorrow.

My salt water is made up night before in a bucket, with a powerhead and a heater in it matching same heat in tank.

I use a hydrometer, but find hard to read it properly.

Change to BW started 3 weeks ago, started at 0.00, then 0.02, 0.04, its sitting at about 0.07/0.08 ish!

GSP is fine, appetite like a horse, bright colouration and swimming away.

Do I just do a usual WC tomorrow, and not add any salt? Or use less salt ?

[Jagatorjake]

i'm not entirely sure about your situation. i also have a brackish tank and every time i test my water with my API test kit i get the same reading (0.25 ppm) even though my fish experiences no signs of elevated levels. i almost think the water conditioner i'm using has something in it that makes the ammonia look elevated. i just got prime instead of tetra aqua safe so i'm going to try that, but i've heard the API ammonia test is out dated.

[Pufferpunk]

How are you adding the salt? Are you premixing overnight & checking with a hydrometer?

[Tigerlilly]

I always have a 0.25 reading in my brackish tank after adding the salt and stuff which removes chlorine.
I did a test on our tap water = 0
Did a test on water with the stuff which removes chlorine in (there was a lot of it in a little ammount of water but..) = 0.5

Could be that.

[lesleyanndunn]

yes, my salt is premixed night before and airstone and heater added.

so made up 24 hrs in advance. and hydrometer used. ive one of the glass ones that go in the water and float to the certain sg level. i need to get another refractometer, much more accurate

ive tested again there now, and same reading.

i want to do a water change tomorrow, but dont know how much salt to add?

will i add less, same, or more to bring up sg again by 0.02?

or wait until i get ammonia back down to 0, just keep the same sg for now?

[Pufferpunk]

What's your goal SG for what fish? No reason to raise it quickly.

[lesleyanndunn]

think maybe i raised too quickly on friday, i definately did add more than the 0.02 increase...

i was aiming for medium sg 1.010-1.015? that sound right?

hes about 2" at the moment..

think i should stick to sg it is at the moment for week or so? its at 1.008

[Pufferpunk]

How big is your GSP?

[lesleyanndunn]

about 2 inches

[Pufferpunk]

Might as well save on $alt & keep it around 1.010-12. No rush to get there though.

[lesleyanndunn]

thanks pp!

i have salted water mixing now, and will declorinate tomorrow.

am going to change to prime, was using stresscoat

didnt know prime existed until read others use it on here.

how soon after a wc can you test the water again to get an accurate reading for ammonia?