Ammonia spike??

[Heidyth]

Cycling FW 30 gal aquarium

1 Red Cap Oranda
1 Black Bubble Eye
1 Apple Snail (Pomacea Canaliculata)

Tank was seeded with approximately 2lbs gravel, rocks, plastic plants and some water from an established tank. Set up 6/16/03 Fish and snail added 6/17/03.
Ammonia test kit = Aquarium Pharmaceuticals inc. Nitrate/Nitrite test kit = Quick dip test strips from Jungle. Feeding 1 to 2x daily Bio-Blend Goldfish from Marineland labs and Nutrafin Max Spirulina Algae tabs. Snail removed to different set up for supplemental vegetable feedings. Placed back in tank after approximately 10 hrs.

Date 6/18/03 6/19/03 6/20/03 6/21/03 6/22/03
Nitrate 10 10 15 17 20am 20pm
Nitrite 0 0 0 5 3am 3pm
Ammonia 0 30 50 50 25am 15pm

Date 6/24/03 6/25/03 6/26/03
Nitrate 20 20 20
Nitrite 3 3 3
Ammonia 0 0 50

On 6/26 I shook bottle #1 from ammonia test. Retest same results. Is this spike from shaking or is ammonia spiking?

[NJ Devils Fan]

If when ever you get your first reading of ammonia, it spiked.

[Heidyth]

That is why I am so confussed. I had ammonia the 19th through the 22nd then it went to 0. Now I have it again. I did forget to dump the test tube out but I rinsed and rinsed before using it again. I am wondering if that is what did it because I tested an established tank about 4 hours after a 50 % water change. (Still trying to get the gunk from the goldfish out of the 5 gal betta home.) It showed ammonia. I am very confussed and wish I had another test tube so I could cut down on the variables.

[Heidyth]

Well I guess just rinsing the test tube wasn't enough after letting it sit with the chenicals in it. I soaked the test tube in some water with the water conditioner and my readings are fine now. Thanks!

[wetmanNY]

I hope those numbers don't refer to parts per million! What do they refer to, btw?

Do you suppose something in the water conditioner reacted with the dried-on residue from the old test? Do you suppose aloe vera gel might affect test results?

Heidi, you'd be amazed at what people have to go through not to contaminate the test tube when they're testing for phosphate! Personally, I never pay any attention to someone's "test results" for PO4, for just these reasons.

I hope you don't do tests on food preparation surfaces.

[brianfl]

wetmanny,
I had always heard that it the phosphate test out there weren't very accurate (or at least you should take them with a grain of salt). I think now I understand. Thanks. I haven't had the need to check for phosphates.

[wetmanNY]

Brian, I was reminded of phosphate tests because I'm reading that the test equipment needs to be rinsed in acid then in distilled water, and put away wet, or you'll be testing "positive" from the sticky phosphate from the last test sample.

When we do tests, even for easier stuff, we have to do all the shaking and waiting the directions lay out, or we get misleading results.

[Heidyth]

Originally posted by wetmanNY
I hope those numbers don't refer to parts per million! What do they refer to, btw?

Yes they were ppm
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Do you suppose something in the water conditioner reacted with the dried-on residue from the old test? Do you suppose aloe vera gel might affect test results?

There was never dried on residue. I do think that the water conditioner in the water I soaked the test tube in got rid of traces of ammonia. I now am consistanly getting 0ppm nitrite 0ppm ammonia and 20ppm nitrates. Why do you ask about aloe vera gel? My fish don't have wounds and I would not use aloe vera on them as I have never heard of such a thing for fish and would want to know that it would not harm them in any way. I am new and may make mistakes but I do my best to take care of my fish.
---------------------------------

Heidi, you'd be amazed at what people have to go through not to contaminate the test tube when they're testing for phosphate! Personally, I never pay any attention to someone's "test results" for PO4, for just these reasons.

I learned a valuable lesson about the test tubes. Should I ever test for phosphates I will be sure to learn about the equipment and contamination of it. Perhaps a thread from an experienced fishkeeper on the care and cleaning of testing equipment would be helpful for us here in the newbie section.
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I hope you don't do tests on food preparation surfaces.

Why would I do tests on food prep surfaces? I do not work in that industry. If I did need to do them I would hope to have a well trained trainer to teach me before hand. Just like I come here to Aquariacentral to learn and ask questions as I am getting into this hobby and want to keep all my animals in the best conditions as I can.

[wetmanNY]

Twenty-five and fifty parts per million ammonia? Tough on the fish.

[Heidyth]

I was very concerned but from everything I knew to do what I thought I understood was best was to not do a water change unless it went up to 100ppm and then only do a 10% water change. I am glad it never went that far. I am also glad that the spike only lasted a few days and the numbers are now back to zero. Is my thinking correct or can you recommend differnt ways to go next time? I respect your opinions wetman.

Thanks
Linda

[Heidyth]

DOH!!!! I just reread the 1st sticky on the newbie forum. I feel so stupid. Next tank I am cycling fishless!

[yashinfan]

I'm really confused. Anything over 9 PPM of ammonia will kill a fish. 100PPM of ammonia is enough to kill humans. So.. yes.. I don't get how it could EVER be that high unless you poured straight ammonia into the tank in large quantities...

[Heidyth]

well in looking at the color card I noticed that after 50 75 etc. when it came to the 1 it was 1.0 So I guess it means my readings were .25 .15 and .50
I'm learning and everyone is happy eating very well and healthy.