african-cichlids Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Iv had the live rock in the tank for 3days now and I'm reading .5 - 1 ammonia. I'm not completely new I just always doubt myself and need second opinions so I realise ammonia levels in the cycling stage is part of it but should I be reading around 2ammonia or it varies. I should mention that it was an established tank before I took it over (ex display tank LFS) but was shut down. All the other water parameters are spot on Iv just been told that ammonia in salt should be around 2 before it drops to nitrites, true or false. Oh and I'm using api test Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidg Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 (edited) False, it can be higher or lower. API as an indicator only. API will rarely give a precise reading. If you raise your PH via chems your ammonia will skyrocket, low PH ammonium with slight traces of ammonia, higher PH mostly ammonia. Edited December 31, 2014 by liquidg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
african-cichlids Posted December 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 My ph is 8.3 so should be more ammonia right or should I stop worrying and just let the cycling do it thing lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenswimmers Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 or should I stop worrying and just let the cycling do it thing lol And I think you have answered all you worries yourself let it become stable and I wouldn't really look into anything too much until pretty much the 3rd or 4th week...mother nature rewards patience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
african-cichlids Posted December 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Yer I think il just let it go lol. Just one last question I'm not loosing any water to evaporation iv checked the levels every day it's now been 4days it's been set up. No changes in water chemistry either apart from ammonia obviously as if I was loosing water cause of evaporation the specific gravity, alkalinity and calcium etc would increase. I guess it's a bonus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidg Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 Yeh to a degree you can wait or you could provide for a greater and rewarding bacterium and subsequently a more stable reef environment. You don’t usually get much evap when there is a lot of humidity and or the temps in room and tank are similar, the excited molecules are more inclined to remain where they are rather then rise out. When your bacterium gets into it well and truly, you may get a cal rise due to the nitrobacteria species of bacteria doing it’s bit. But in time if that happens it all stabilises any way. With ammonia it starts getting there in the late 70sph or there abouts and increases with higher PH, but try to keep it where it is and its all good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
african-cichlids Posted January 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 Cheers liquidg iv just got some more live rock so. Il just sit back and wait it out I'm not going to lie I just want to add coral and fish haha but il be patient like I tell everyone else haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
african-cichlids Posted January 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 Oh liquidg seeings how your from wellington pt where would my best spot to get nice clean nsw from I was thinking wellington pt or cleveland light house. I'm from Alexhills so it's all too close for me to get to lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
