NH4 is 1.5ppm but NH3 is 0

[fish4phil]

I've had my 10g quarantine tank running with no fish for about 2 months. I hadn't been keeping up with the ammonia to keep it cycled. It's been a week of dosing 4ppm pure ammonia daily, testing daily. Now, my Nitrites are 0, Nitrates are 160+, NH3 is 0, but NH4 is 1.5. PH is 6.2. My last water change I did 90% a week ago.

I use Prime when WC, temp is at 78, tests using API liquid, NH3 test using Seachem Ammonia Alert. I've tested with same results 3 times just now.

My cycle is working, and I know NH4 is less harmful, but is it ready for fish?

Sent from my mobile aquarium device

 

[pip walters]

To start with, your pH is low - not good for nitrifying bacteria. The plus side to that is that the free (toxic) portion of the ammonia will be minimal - with your other parameters, free ammonia calculates out at 0.001 ppm, so nothing to worry about really.

Having done a water change, your ammonia has reduced as would be expected. You need to buffer he pH to 7 to give the bacteria a chance and (in my opinion) add some bottled bacteria - you may be surprised when it works... because it does!

I have posted my opinion on this 4ppm ammonia - it is way too high, unless you plan on overstocking with enough fish to produce that much ammonia. You can cycle a tank with half that amount and it will still take longer than it should if you don't add a culture of BB.