Do theese parameters sound normal???

[mm2meyer]

Hey just a quick question, I have my tank up and running absolutely nothing alive in it yet, Just salt, water, and some sand. But just for giggles I tested the water. And the one thing that sticks out as a little odd is my ammonia is at 1 ppm. Now I'm just trying to figure is that normal or is there something off?? Any help would be awesome guys. Thanks!!

 

[Wes888]

Did you use tap water? Or it maybe a bug died in there. :D

 

[mm2meyer]

NO I did not use tap water, I made that mistake once already. The possibility of a bug in there could be a reason but I haven't seen any, just a ton of cat hair stuck to the top of the overflow, It's an open top tank for now.

 

[Ted]

Isnt hair protein? And protein will brake down which could cause ammonia.

 

[bobby]

Was the sand live sand? If so maybe there were some organics that broke down from die off?

 

[mm2meyer]

not too sure, nothing in their yet, not even live rock or sand, just "dry" sand. It just struck me as odd.

 

[Bifferwine]

Nah. Hair wouldn't do that. It takes way too long to break down.

I'd take a water sample to the LFS for double checking. I wouldn't trust that ammonia test if what you're saying is all true.

 

[ndepratt]

are you missing a cat?

test your RO/DI. make sure you're not using the waste water, haha.

 

[mm2meyer]

well its a dropper test made by red sea. I was thinking the same thing I'll prolly do that in the next couple of days. It also said my ph is at 8.4 is that high or normal???

 

[mm2meyer]

no all three cats are still raising hell. one of them got a little too curious and fell in one night, that was HILARIOUS!!!

 

[Ted]

no all three cats are still raising hell. one of them got a little too curious and fell in one night, that was HILARIOUS!!!

hmm wonder if he pissed in the water.

 

[mm2meyer]

she, but I thought the same thing. not too sure, but I think the concentrations would be a lot higher if she did.

 

[mm2meyer]

couldn't be the waste water, it got it from a grocery storre

 

[Wes888]

no all three cats are still raising hell. one of them got a little too curious and fell in one night, that was HILARIOUS!!!

Maybe your cat wet herself after dropping into the tank. That'll do it. :D

 

[dcantucson]

You guys are too funny :lol:
May be it discharged a little brownie cause it scared the ---- out of it when it fell in. Just let it cycle. It's all good.

 

[yote]

well its a dropper test made by red sea. I was thinking the same thing I'll prolly do that in the next couple of days. It also said my ph is at 8.4 is that high or normal???

That right there could be the problem.
And that PH is good.I try to keep mine at 8.4-8.5.

 

[mm2meyer]

so red sea is crap for test kits??? Any suggestions on better test kits

 

[yote]

I never had a red sea kit show the same results on the same water sample.
Salifert kits are good,but pricey.Api kits are decent.

 

[ndepratt]

i use api because of the price... and the results have always been pretty good in my experience.

 

[Wes888]

Same.