Ammonia at 0.25ppm Question

[Betta1227]

Is ijt bad if my ammonia is at 0.25ppm?
I have my betta in and it seems to be happy

 

[Cgtoxic]

No if it is at .75 then i would be worried but you're good.

 

[SeaMonkey06]

Is ijt bad if my ammonia is at 0.25ppm?
I have my betta in and it seems to be happy

I'd say it's not deadly or anything (keep an eye on your levels) but if you have any concerns a water change won't hurt. Is your tank cycled?

 

[Cichlidude]

Is ijt bad if my ammonia is at 0.25ppm?
I have my betta in and it seems to be happy

What is your pH?

 

[Betta1227]

What is your pH?

6.0

 

[Cichlidude]

6.0

pH of 6 is not an issue for ammonia at that level. High pH would be bad like 8. However, if you have a filter in the tank, your bacteria is not doing a thing, which may be causing the slight increase you are seeing. Best to get your pH to 7 to get your bacteria kick started. If you have a filter...

 

[Betta1227]

pH of 6 is not an issue for ammonia at that level. High pH would be bad like 8. However, if you have a filter in the tank, your bacteria is not doing it thing, which may be causing the slight increase you are seeing. Best to get your pH to 7 to get your bacteria kick started. If you have a filter...

How do i get it to 7

 

[Cichlidude]

How do i get it to 7

Do you have a filter? Lots of ways water change is the fastest and easiest. There are other ways too. How big a tank? What is the pH of your tap water?

 

[Betta1227]

Do you have a filter? Lots of ways water change is the fastest and easiest. There are other ways too. How big a tank? What is the pH of your tap water?

Yes I have a filter for my 6.6 hallon tank, how do u check tap water on lol

 

[Cichlidude]

Yes I have a filter for my 6.6 hallon tank, how do u check tap water on lol

The same way you checked the pH of the tank water. How did you check it to say it was 6.0?

 

[StarGirl15]

Yes I have a filter for my 6.6 hallon tank, how do u check tap water on lol

Same as in the tank.

 

[Betta1227]

The same way you checked the pH of the tank water. How did you check it to say it was 6.0?

Api test kit i think it would be the same ph in my tank right now

 

[Cichlidude]

You won't know until you test. So, test your pH of your tap water and test the pH of your tank. What are they?

 

[Betta1227]

You're right their not the same, my ph changed the last time i checked, here are the pics the lighter one is my tank and the darker one is my tap

 

[Cichlidude]

Well there you have it. A series of water changes should bring it up to the 7.0 range where your tap water is. Something like 50% a day might work. Don't forget to add your de-chlorinator!

 

[jdhef]

Usually when your tank water is lower than your tap water, it indicates that you have water with a low KH (i.e. soft water). The KH helps keep the waters pH constant, and water with a low KH is likely to have the pH change pretty easily.

I have this problem myself, so I added some crushed coral to my filter, which releases calcium into the water which raises the KH level, therefore keeping my pH steady at the level it comes out of my tap.

But with a small tank, you can get away with just putting a cuttle bone (those things they sell in the bird department) and just put that in your tank. It too will raise the KH level keeping your pH level steady.

One word of caution, with a pH of 6.0, all the ammonia in your tank has converted to ammonium, which is far less toxic (some claim non-toxic) to fish. But also with so low a pH level your bacteria has gone dormant. Once your pH starts rising, that ammonium starts converting into ammonia. Depending on how long the ammonia converting bacteria was dormant, it may have all starved off. So keep an eye on your ammonia levels.

 

[Cichlidude]

Usually when your tank water is lower than your tap water, it indicates that you have water with a low KH (i.e. soft water). The KH helps keep the waters pH constant, and water with a low KH is likely to have the pH change pretty easily.

I have this problem myself, so I added some crushed coral to my filter, which releases calcium into the water which raises the KH level, therefore keeping my pH steady at the level it comes out of my tap.

But with a small tank, you can get away with just putting a cuttle bone (those things they sell in the bird department) and just put that in your tank. It too will raise the KH level keeping your pH level steady.

One word of caution, with a pH of 6.0, all the ammonia in your tank has converted to ammonium, which is far less toxic (some claim non-toxic) to fish. But also with so low a pH level your bacteria has gone dormant. Once your pH starts rising, that ammonium starts converting into ammonia. Depending on how long the ammonia converting bacteria was dormant, it may have all starved off. So keep an eye on your ammonia levels.

Great. Agree, now that we have the data.

 

[Betta1227]

My ammonia is still at 0.25ppm will adding seachem stability make it go away

 

[CoryFan]

That is fine, I wouldn’t worry until it goes over .75 or 1 ppm.