Lorien Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Since adding macros, my nitrates have dropped from 20 to 5ppm and ammonia is up from 0 to .25. I am assuming that more nitrate is on the way, with the ammonia spike. Should I wait and retest? How long should I wait to see? Should I add a supplement so my macros don't starve? Thanks! Lorien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planeden Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 i don't know why your ammonia would go up with adding macro. when i added mine my nitrate also dropped from about 20 ppm to 5 ppm. it has help pretty steady at 5 ppm since and my macro is doing very well. i don't add anything for it, just what gets broken down from the fish and food. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esacjack Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorien Posted October 27, 2013 Author Share Posted October 27, 2013 Well I also added a huge slightly damaged and angry waving hand xenia. I think that is putting out the ammonia. And thanks, I will just keep an eye on it then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 If you're using an API ammonia test, that's a normal reading for no ammonia. It's almost impossible to have measurable ammonia in an established tank so I would think it's safe to assume it's just a false reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorien Posted October 27, 2013 Author Share Posted October 27, 2013 It is an API test. It is now 0. Whew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esacjack Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 agreed, with the API and Hagen tests, I always show a trace value of ammonia. With other tests it comes back as near zero. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sascha D. Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 I use an API test kit as well and I find it difficult to read. The results are never distrinctly one color or another so you have to guess a lot. On the macro. What kind did you add? A macro that is decaying may raise ammonia. Macros are photosynthetic so most of their food comes from the light. Ther "fertilizer" will come from the fish and the leftover food. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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