nuclearbroccoli
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2008
- Messages
- 16
Hi, I'm praying someone can help me with this puzzle. I bought an ammonia test kit (aquarium pharmaceuticals inc). It has two bottles, 8 drops of each are added to a tube of water. So, if the water in the tube turns yellow, ammonia levels are 0 and all is well, and if the water turns green, the darker green it is the higher the ammonia level, right? Ok, my test keeps turning blue! This color is NOT on the color chart. I have no idea what the ammonia level is and I'm getting worried.
Anyway, a little more info maybe: The first tank that gave this result is an 18G, aquaclear 30 filter, kept at about 80 degrees. Tank contains 2 small angelfish (New angel added, one other just died - white around eye - starting treating with myacin (?), too late I think.) Recently replaced the carbon insert with the ammonia remover insert. (*the test was blue BEFORE I did this, as well as after). PH is about 7.5. I know, a little high, but the water is hard and I can't make a dent in the PH level and the aquarium store suggested I should leave it alone.
Second tank just recently started giving blue reading. It's a 20G, aquaclear 30 (again with the ammonia remover instead), kept at about 80 degrees as well. Contains 3 small barbs. (Lost 2 fish from this tank at different times - both green barbs..) Did something stupid last week - still kind of new to this and following directions to the letter, I replaced the foam filter. Ammonia levels skyrocketed, green barb died, test showed about 4ppm ammonia. Hard to tell if it was ammonia though as I added ammo lock in response to an earlier test. Anyway, the tank went super cloudy, film on top, fish gasping at surface. I skimmed the top, added a bubbler and fish seem fine 2 days later. But test is blue! Even the local "experts" at the largest aquarium supply in the city have no idea why. Anyone?
*Another thought: Brown algae has recently begun developing in both tanks (yuck). Would this have any effect on my test?*
Anyway, a little more info maybe: The first tank that gave this result is an 18G, aquaclear 30 filter, kept at about 80 degrees. Tank contains 2 small angelfish (New angel added, one other just died - white around eye - starting treating with myacin (?), too late I think.) Recently replaced the carbon insert with the ammonia remover insert. (*the test was blue BEFORE I did this, as well as after). PH is about 7.5. I know, a little high, but the water is hard and I can't make a dent in the PH level and the aquarium store suggested I should leave it alone.
Second tank just recently started giving blue reading. It's a 20G, aquaclear 30 (again with the ammonia remover instead), kept at about 80 degrees as well. Contains 3 small barbs. (Lost 2 fish from this tank at different times - both green barbs..) Did something stupid last week - still kind of new to this and following directions to the letter, I replaced the foam filter. Ammonia levels skyrocketed, green barb died, test showed about 4ppm ammonia. Hard to tell if it was ammonia though as I added ammo lock in response to an earlier test. Anyway, the tank went super cloudy, film on top, fish gasping at surface. I skimmed the top, added a bubbler and fish seem fine 2 days later. But test is blue! Even the local "experts" at the largest aquarium supply in the city have no idea why. Anyone?
*Another thought: Brown algae has recently begun developing in both tanks (yuck). Would this have any effect on my test?*