15 litre nano tank

[Willba200]

Hi all, my parents have given me a nano tank which they had for about 6 months , but decided they did not want to do saltwater. I have done some tests and the ammonia is at 0.25 . I noticed the salt levels were very high and have got them down to 0.127(slightly high I know) there is a shrimp in the tank that seems to be ok! My water change today was about 75% and still shows ammonia. Does anyone have any thought on this. I will post a picture to see if you think I have enough live rock. Many thanks.

 

[Willba200]

Reason I did such a large change was because I'm not sure how there house keeping on the tank was.

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

If your using an api kit to test it may give you a false positive. Your lfs should test the water if you bring them a sample

 

[Willba200]

I used mine and my brothers although is is a fresh water one, it still showed ammonia

 

[Willba200]

Judging by the picture, do you think there's enough live rock

 

[Macscale]

Rock is judged by the amount of pounds. Weigh it.

Freshwater kits are not valid in saltwater
Invest in some quality kits such as: Red Sea, Salifert or Hannah Checkers.

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

Actually if it's api kit, there the same tests but will produce slightly different final colors

 

[Macscale]

Actually if it's api kit, there the same tests but will produce slightly different final colors

That's interesting... Would it be more accurate with a salt water one though,

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

No it's the exact same chemicals, the only difference is the color card, and maybe the price

 

[Macscale]

Wow, that's ridiculous.

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

Yeah especially if they charge more money . Op your rock looks fine to me, good looking scape

 

[Willba200]

Thanks , I have a 149 l saltwater set up already. My real question was the ammonia. Problem is I don't know what the parents were doing with the tank. I.e water changes etc.... Will it eventually go away or is something feeding it ?

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

Did you drain the tank or expose the LR to air? Did you physically move it or just take over the care?
Edit: if any of the first 3 are yes it's probably just a mini cycle

 

[Willba200]

Not really. I did a 70% w/c today. Rock was exposed for a matter of minutes. Before I did the change it had a ammonia reading

 

[Willba200]

Not really. I did a 70% w/c today. Rock was exposed for a matter of minutes. Before I did the change it had a ammonia reading.

 

[Willba200]

I moved it from house to house

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

Sounds like a mini cycle from the move. Your substrate looks like crushed coral, that may also be trapping decaying matter. IMO sand is much better for tanks, and easier to keep clean