[Cattitude]

Today I tested my 26 gal tank for ammonia and it was pretty high (2 ppm)so I did a 50% water change. I use the API Master freshwater kit.

How long should I wait after a water change to retest the water? Is it normal for the ammonia level to take a while to go down? Does the Prime cause false positive ammonia readings?

 

[Neil D]

Prime converts ammonia to a less harmful variety for a while, before rereleasing it into the tank. The tests will still detect the ammonia though. You can test right after a water change if you want, but I would wait a little while (10min or so) so everything gets settled. I'm currently cycling my 40g goldfish tank.

 

[Oldfishlady]

Usually it can take about 24-28h after the use of prime to get a true ammonia reading.....

The ammonia neutralizing products like Prime- changes it to ammonium and the test products can't tell the difference....

Test before the water change....then again in 24-28h....you also may need to test your source water if you are getting that high of ammonia reading to rule that out and/or reevaluated your water changes schedule, vacuuming, stocking and feeding.....

If you have chloramine in the source water-this may cause a false ammonia reading as well-since it is a type of ammonia.....Be sure and check the dechlorinator label for proper dosage if you have both chlorine and chloramine in the source water-some instruct double dose.

Watch the fish-if you are having a lot of gill and/or fin issues with the fish or you see them gasping at the surface a lot.....then you may have ammonia issues....otherwise it might be false readings.....

 

[Cattitude]

Usually it can take about 24-28h after the use of prime to get a true ammonia reading.....

The ammonia neutralizing products like Prime- changes it to ammonium and the test products can't tell the difference....

Test before the water change....then again in 24-28h....you also may need to test your source water if you are getting that high of ammonia reading to rule that out and/or reevaluated your water changes schedule, vacuuming, stocking and feeding.....

If you have chloramine in the source water-this may cause a false ammonia reading as well-since it is a type of ammonia.....Be sure and check the dechlorinator label for proper dosage if you have both chlorine and chloramine in the source water-some instruct double dose.

Watch the fish-if you are having a lot of gill and/or fin issues with the fish or you see them gasping at the surface a lot.....then you may have ammonia issues....otherwise it might be false readings.....

My source water reading is .5. My fish don't seem sick at all, they are active and healthy. I guess I will have to base my water change schedule primarily on how the fish are doing. Currently I'm doing 50% water changes twice a week, vacuuming once a week.

 

[Oldfishlady]

What is the nitrate reading, stocking level and do you have any live plants.....you might be able to cut down on the water changes to weekly 50% with vacuum in a 26gal tank...while that extra water only won't hurt either-may not be needed...

 

[Cattitude]

What is the nitrate reading, stocking level and do you have any live plants.....you might be able to cut down on the water changes to weekly 50% with vacuum in a 26gal tank...while that extra water only won't hurt either-may not be needed...

My nitrate reading is at zero. I have a lot of live plants in the tank - wisteria, hornwort, java moss, java fern. My tank is stocked with 5 female bettas, 5 cory cats, and 5 White Cloud minnows.