water/salt mixing problem

[SeasonScreamer]

I am rather new to the saltwater aquarium and I have a question, I am mixing the salt and RO/DI water with a powerhead in a 29 gallon storage bin for 24 hours without a cover, why am I getting a high ammonia reading? Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Mrc8858]

First what tests are you using and secondly how long have the cartridges in your Ro/Di been in use since your last replacement

 

[SeasonScreamer]

I am using an API liquid test for the ammonia and the filters for the RO/DI unit were changed a week ago

 

[bavass]

is the make up water testing ammonia or the aquarium? what kind of container? is it food grade? how old is the tank?

 

[SeasonScreamer]

the make up water is testing high ammonia and the container is just a plastic storage bin that has been rinsed out and only used now

 

[Saratj1]

are you using a freshwater test? and getting about a .25 ppm result (cloudy pale yellow)

 

[SeasonScreamer]

I've been using the right test, I bought a new powerhead and am using a bucket that only has been used for the salt, the ro/di that I tested as fresh before adding salt is reading 0 for ammonia, but after I added salt it jumped on the Saltwater test to .5 in ammonia. I am going to let it mix overnight and recheck the ammonia in the morning, but I keep getting .5 readings or higher. Just don't understand the issue

 

[bavass]

I think I would contact the company that made the salt and have them test it. Either way i think i would switch salts or atleast try a different batch

 

[austinsdad]

Test the water straight from the tap. I do believe I've heard of municipal water having small amounts.

 

[Sniperhank]

Have a hard time believing that it is the salt. But what kind are you using?
I would assume that it would be coming from your water. You just replaced the filters for your RO/DI unit? What kind of filters?

 

[SeasonScreamer]

I replaced all the filters (10 micron sediment, 5 micron coconut carbon black, 1 micron coconut black and DI) I've tested the water after creating the RO/DI and it's been reading 0 ammonia. Thought it may have been the powerhead as it was used in a tank previously, so I bought a new power head, the readings are much better, but still am getting about a .5 reading. I'm using Reef Crystals salt and I bought a new bucket of it to see if I just got a bad batch, but I have read that people have had some ammonia readings with reef crystals at .25, but mine is higher which is why I'm wondering if there is something else I may be doing wrong.

 

[Mrc8858]

Do you have a friend you could ask to use their ammo test to see if perhaps yours is slightly off..I know its a long shot since you've gotten a 0 reading with it on RO water but I can't think of nothing else...

 

[SeasonScreamer]

Gotten the ammonia to come down to .25 in my mixup using Reef Crystals that I have read can do that on mix up then goes away when added to a mature aquarium, which seems to be the case, tank ammonia has maintained 0 so it just must be the salt. Thanks for all the ideas and comments.