Jackie Frost

I tested for amonia and the results were 0.25%. So I did a fifty percent water change (I'm trying to save my one goldfish because I didn't know about the nitrogen cycle but that's the subject of another post) and the results were still 0.25%. Is that normal or did I do something wrong?

Beth1965

Did you use dechlorinator? What kind of kit are you using (strips or vials)? Also, I think that if you tested immediatly after the test results wouldn't be so accurate, you need to wait a bit-hours to 12 hours.

Jackie Frost

Maybe that's it. I tested five minutes after doing the water change. I'll test again tommorow before the next change. I use Prime by the way, which I think is dechlorinator.

Oh, and I use the vials.

Lucy

Prime can give you a false reading, it dissipates after 24 hours, so Beth is correct, wait 24hrs and test again.
seachem.com

Shawnie

test your tap water also...make sure there isnt any in there
usually .25 in a tap wouldnt be an issue if the tank was fully cycled..the bacteria would eat it all up...

Jackie Frost

Now my Black Moor is acting a little funny. She makes these small jerks with her fins and body as if she has constant hiccups. I don't know why she's doing that. I hope she's alright. That's good idea about testing the tap for amonia Shawnie. I'll do that.

Shawnie

if you dont have a nitrate reading, it doesnt really matter if its a false positive or not..the tank isnt cycled and I would assume the worst and continue with the daily water changes until you have a confirmed nitrates..

Jackie Frost

I just tested the tap water for amonia and got a zero rating. So it's not the tap. I tested for nitrates yesterday and had none. So it's onward with the daily water changes. I hope the shock of new water in itself (I let the water sit for 12 hours conditioned with Prime) doesn't hurt my fish. It probably doesn't. That jerking movement she was making was strange ...but she's not doing it now.

Shawnie

you dont need to let it sit with the prime...but id only do a 30% change or so...cycling is hard on them..keep the faith and the water changes with prime should go a long way..id do this daily until you have a nitrate reading no matter what the ammonia says