Run into a problem preparing tank for livestock

So I have been planting and decorating a 30 gallon tank which I am using to upgrade from my 10 g community tank to.
I have been planning on just putting my filter from my 10 g and some plants / wood from it into my 30 g when I move the fish over to do an “instant cycle”.
Well today was the day I planned on finally doing this and moving everything over.

I did my first water test and saw I have about 0.25 - 0.50 ammonia (I put fish food in the first day I got my filter and water in tank before I decided to cycle the tank the way I stated before)
And a Ph of 6 or less.

what should I do? I don’t know how to raise my ph or get rid of the ammonia besides doing water changes for who knows how long.
I do have seachem prime so I’m wondering if that would take care of my little ammonia.
I just want to move my fish over I was so excited

Any help is very much appreciated
Edit: tested tap water ph and it’s in the 7s…

 

To remove Ammonia: Waterchange. Dilution will help.

But at your pH (normally below 6.6) Ammonia is present as Ammonium, which is far less toxic.

 

To remove Ammonia: Waterchange. Dilution will help.

But at your pH (normally below 6.6) Ammonia is present as Ammonium, which is far less toxic.

So I should just do water changes and it’ll fix it? And what do I do about my ph? And if ammonium is less toxic does that mean I can add my fish?
Im also confused on why my ph is low, it’s the same tap water I used to fill my 10 g and though I never tested it till a few months into having the tank I never had ph problems as it is in the mid 7s. Do fish raise your ph?

 

So I should just do water changes and it’ll fix it?

The ammonia concentration: Yes. For the moment.

And what do I do about my ph?

Nothing for the moment besides finding out why it's that low. Do you know the KH of your water? KH is directly linked to pH, so knowing that one is essential.
Is there soil in the new tank? (Best you post a picture.)

And if ammonium is less toxic does that mean I can add my fish?

Ground rule: When you can't explain your water parameters and even repeated testing and ruling out measuring errors shows the same results don't add fish until you know what's going on.

Do fish raise your ph?

No. Their waste lowers it over time, though. That's one of the reasons we do waterchanges.

 

The ammonia concentration: Yes. For the moment.


Nothing for the moment besides finding out why it's that low. Do you know the KH of your water? KH is directly linked to pH, so knowing that one is essential.
Is there soil in the new tank? (Best you post a picture.)


Ground rule: When you can't explain your water parameters and even repeated testing and ruling out measuring errors shows the same results don't add fish until you know what's going on.


No. Their waste lowers it over time, though. That's one of the reasons we do waterchanges.

Okay I’ll do water changes, should I also be adding seachem prime to help with ammonia?

I’m not sure why it’s low since it’s not my tap water. And I don’t know my KH but I am using fluval stratum as a substrate and I’ll include a picture of my tank.

And okay I’ll make sure not to add anything until this is all sorted out and fixed. And okay thanks for clearing my confusion.

 

Okay I’ll do water changes, should I also be adding seachem prime to help with ammonia?

Rather for the chlorine and chloramine, provided there is such in your tap. Remember, that if it's chloramine you will get a reading of about 0.25 residual ammonia after using a dechlorinator.

I’m not sure why it’s low since it’s not my tap water.

How is it not your tap? What do you use then? RO? Also, always test your sourcewater. Prevents many nasty surprises.

And I don’t know my KH

Get a testkit for that. Knowing your KH and GH is essential. Especially KH.

but I am using fluval stratum as a substrate

There is your culprit. That stuff lowers hardness and pH. Takes several large volume waterchanges to counter the effect.

Also, after seeing your tank: Add at least 5 times the amount of plants. Maybe even more.

 

Rather for the chlorine and chloramine, provided there is such in your tap. Remember, that if it's chloramine you will get a reading of about 0.25 residual ammonia after using a dechlorinator.


How is it not your tap? What do you use then? RO? Also, always test your sourcewater. Prevents many nasty surprises.


Get a testkit for that. Knowing your KH and GH is essential. Especially KH.


There is your culprit. That stuff lowers hardness and pH. Takes several large volume waterchanges to counter the effect.

Also, after seeing your tank: Add at least 5 times the amount of plants. Maybe even more.

Oh so the reason for my ammonia would be chloramine? I’ll start using the prime to counter that then thank you.

And ya it’s not my tap water since I tested my tap water and it’s ph is in the 7s

okay I will go out and get one of those test kits, I’m still new to the hobby and didn’t even know there was such a thing so thank you.

ohh I did not know that. How big of water changes should I be doing? 50%? Daily? This will take some time lol.

trust me I plan on getting a lottt more plants, I just don’t know what to get yet I want to make my tank look as good as possible and don’t want to rush how it looks. But I will definitely be filling it up with plants

thanks for the help!

 

Oh so the reason for my ammonia would be chloramine? I’ll start using the prime to counter that then thank you.

If you use tap and your water supplier adds chloramine.

And ya it’s not my tap water since I tested my tap water and it’s ph is in the 7s

What else do you use then? What is your water source if not tap? 7 is a neutral pH, you can use that easily.

ohh I did not know that. How big of water changes should I be doing? 50%? Daily? This will take some time lol.

As much as you like as fast as you like until the parameters go stable again. At this point you can do 5 100% waterchanges in one day if you like.

trust me I plan on getting a lottt more plants, I just don’t know what to get yet I want to make my tank look as good as possible and don’t want to rush how it looks. But I will definitely be filling it up with plants

In my opinion it's essential to have a plan concerning plants and having them in the tank before adding livestock. Now is the perfect time to get that sorted.
Looks are secondary. Most important is the tank fits the fishes requirements and is balanced biologically.

 

If you use tap and your water supplier adds chloramine.


What else do you use then? What is your water source if not tap? 7 is a neutral pH, you can use that easily.


As much as you like as fast as you like until the parameters go stable again. At this point you can do 5 100% waterchanges in one day if you like.


In my opinion it's essential to have a plan concerning plants and having them in the tank before adding livestock. Now is the perfect time to get that sorted.
Looks are secondary. Most important is the tank fits the fishes requirements and is balanced biologically.

I’m not sure if there is chloramine in the tap water or not, The ammonia could be from the littleee bit of food I put in the tank a few weeks ago which I haven’t done a water change since. I think I just need to do a a few water changes probably around 25% and then in a few days I’ll re test the water and hopefully my ph has risen and ammonia is no more.

And okay I’ll go out and buy some plants in the next day or two. I’ll do some research and look up pictures of ones and see what I think would work with my tank. Will my ph being low effect the health of my plants though?

 

I’m not sure if there is chloramine in the tap water or not

You can look that up on your water provider's website. If they add chlorine or chloramine you will be dependent on dechlorinators for the rest of your fishkeeping carreer.

The ammonia could be from the littleee bit of food I put in the tank a few weeks ago which I haven’t done a water change since.

You didn't give that timeframe in your initial post. So I doubt it's from that bit of fish food. That should have been done after only a few days. It also can't come from the tap then. Is the soil the fertilized version?

I think I just need to do a a few water changes probably around 25% and then in a few days I’ll re test the water and hopefully my ph has risen and ammonia is no more.

Do 50% per waterchange. After 5-6 you should be in your normal range.

And okay I’ll go out and buy some plants in the next day or two. I’ll do some research and look up pictures of ones and see what I think would work with my tank. Will my ph being low effect the health of my plants though?

I recommend fast growers for now: Hydrocotyle, Elodea, Egeria, Ceratophyllum, Limnobium, Pistia, Salvinia. They help balancing nutrients.
pH has relatively little influence, the fluval substrate is designed to lower pH specifically for plants.

 

You can look that up on your water provider's website. If they add chlorine or chloramine you will be dependent on dechlorinators for the rest of your fishkeeping carreer.


You didn't give that timeframe in your initial post. So I doubt it's from that bit of fish food. That should have been done after only a few days. It also can't come from the tap then. Is the soil the fertilized version?


Do 50% per waterchange. After 5-6 you should be in your normal range.


I recommend fast growers for now: Hydrocotyle, Elodea, Egeria, Ceratophyllum, Limnobium, Pistia, Salvinia. They help balancing nutrients.
pH has relatively little influence, the fluval substrate is designed to lower pH specifically for plants.

Ya they use chlorine I just looked it up.

and yes I did it’s in the middle of my first post when I said I did my water test. And I’m not sure I’m assuming it is though.

okay I will do that.

okay thank you I’m in desperate need of plant suggestions and that’s very helpful!

 

Ya they use chlorine I just looked it up.

Then you will have to have dechlorinator in the house at all times and use it for every waterchange as per instructions.

and yes I did it’s in the middle of my first post when I said I did my water test. And I’m not sure I’m assuming it is though.

You only said you added some fish food the first day and not how long ago that was. Only in your last post you wrote "weeks". That is vital information. Before that I was assuming you set up the tank only a few days ago.

You're welcome and good luck, I won't be available for a while now.

 

Then you will have to have dechlorinator in the house at all times and use it for every waterchange as per instructions.


You only said you added some fish food the first day and not how long ago that was. Only in your last post you wrote "weeks". That is vital information. Before that I was assuming you set up the tank only a few days ago.

You're welcome and good luck, I won't be available for a while now.

Okay well thank you for all of the help and I’m sorry if I had some dumb questions and were annoying to deal with.

 

You were not annoying. Carry on.