Help Asap!!!!

pre-2k · #1 02-19-2006, 03:34 AM

On Mon. Feb. 12/06 I did a 20% water change on my 120gal. I checked my ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and ph levels. My ph was at 8.2; nitrite is at zero; nitrate was at 20ppm; and ammonia was at 0.5ppm. A couple of days later I did another water change of 10%. My levels all remained the same. And today i did a 50% water change and checked the levels and they all are still the same. I did not add anything new to the tank in the last 2 weeks and feeding is the same (once a day), the only thing I added new was reef roids.

Tank Info:
-120gal
-170 + lbs of LR
-3-4 inches of sandbed
-1 tang, 2 yellow wrasse, 1 dragon goby, 1 zebra goby, 1 lawnmower blenny, 1 per. clown, 1 blue damsel, 1 ladder goby, 1 horseshoe crab, 1 molly, 1 leopard wrasse
-4 assorted anemones, star polyps, fox coral, pulsing xenia, button polyps, toadstools, assorted mushrooms, flower pot
-inverts
- tank has been established for 5 months
-also have a 30gal sump, protein skimmer, cannister filter, overflow box
-lighting-2-175w MH, 2-VHO actinics, 4-40w Pcs

Can anybody help me solve the levels of nitrate and ammonia in my tank???

mr_alberta · #2 02-19-2006, 04:10 AM

Did you check the levels of the source water? Another possibility is bad/inaccurate test kits.

pre-2k · #3 02-19-2006, 04:29 AM

Hi Mr. Alberta just wondering what u mean when u said source water. Do u mean tap water?

pre-2k · #4 02-19-2006, 04:31 AM

also, my test kit is new, just got it 2 months ago-its a saltwater master liquid test kit

mr_alberta · #5 02-19-2006, 04:31 AM

I mean test the water you are using to make new saltwater. Also, regardless of when you got your test kit, you should compare it to another (take a sample to the store or a buddy to test).

pre-2k · #6 02-19-2006, 05:02 AM

just tested my source water and the ph is 7.4, nitrite is zero, nitrate is zero and ammonia is 1.0ppm

Ruth · #7 02-19-2006, 12:06 PM

IMO your test kit is out of whack if your getting that high of ammonia from your source water. Are you using an RODI filter kit or just using straight tap water? My experience is that "most" tap water is not very good to use for reef keeping and I would highly recommend that you use RODI water for your source water.
If I was you I would take a water sample into your LFS and have them test it or if you have a friend with a different set of test kits have them test it to see if you get the same readings.