Water ? new 55g reef

[hardparts2]

I just recently started my 55g reef and was getting ready to buy live rock so I desided to test my water first this is what I came up with.

Temp 80
sg 1.026
ph 8.3
kh 170 ppm
phosphate 0
calcium 420 ppm
ammonia 3.7

I dont know where the ammonia came from all I have in my tank is 2 heaters,skimmer, 2 powerheads and 90lbs of aragamax sand I used walmart ro water to fill the tank so I tested that water it had 0 ammonia. I did use a powerhead that I had cleaned out and had set for a week or two and a used heater that I cleaned that had been setting for the same amount of time. I had the used powerhead in there a day and the heater 2 days. I now have a ro/di unit 100 gpd should I drain the tank and start over? Or can I add my live rock? Oh the tank has been set up about 3 weeks.
Any input would be great.

Thanks, Bob

 

[SnowManSnow]

You CAN add live rock at this point as long as there is no live stock in the tank. Be aware when you do add your rock you will probably get some die off and another amonia spike. So wait on the live stuff.

You may consider trying another test. IS the one you have old by chance?

B

 

[hardparts2]

Its new I just Got it.

 

[Anonymous]

If you have ammonia then your tank is cycling. NO big thing, just take your time.

After the ammonia starts to drop you will see Nitrite start to rise and then that drops and Nitrates start to rise.

After you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrate you can start stocking the tank slowly.

Good luck!

 

[Nautilus1]

If you have ammonia then your tank is cycling. NO big thing, just take your time.

After the ammonia starts to drop you will see Nitrite start to rise and then that drops and Nitrates start to rise.

After you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrate you can start stocking the tank slowly.

Good luck!

The tank is not cycling. There is nothing live in the tank.

 

[Anonymous]

If you have ammonia then your tank is cycling. NO big thing, just take your time.

After the ammonia starts to drop you will see Nitrite start to rise and then that drops and Nitrates start to rise.

After you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrate you can start stocking the tank slowly.

Good luck!

The tank is not cycling. There is nothing live in the tank.

Its cycling, I would agree if all that was in the tank was RO water, but there is sand in there.

You don't need a fish to have a cycle...

I just recently started my 55g reef and was getting ready to buy live rock so I desided to test my water first this is what I came up with.

Temp 80
sg 1.026
ph 8.3
kh 170 ppm
phosphate 0
calcium 420 ppm
ammonia 3.7

I dont know where the ammonia came from all I have in my tank is 2 heaters,skimmer, 2 powerheads and 90lbs of aragamax sand I used walmart ro water to fill the tank so I tested that water it had 0 ammonia. I did use a powerhead that I had cleaned out and had set for a week or two and a used heater that I cleaned that had been setting for the same amount of time. I had the used powerhead in there a day and the heater 2 days. I now have a ro/di unit 100 gpd should I drain the tank and start over? Or can I add my live rock? Oh the tank has been set up about 3 weeks.
Any input would be great.

Thanks, Bob

 

[Nautilus1]

Perhaps if it was live sand it would be cycling. Sand out of the bag is not going to cycle a tank in my book.

 

[ChrisRD]

My first guess would be a bad test kit reading. I would try another kit or bring a sample to your LFS for testing.

 

[Anonymous]

My first guess would be a bad test kit reading. I would try another kit or bring a sample to your LFS for testing.

That'd be my guess too, I'd retest it before worrying too much.

 

[hardparts2]

I did try another test kit and it was .25 .Could there be chloramines in the ro water I bought ? When they break down it would produce ammonia.

 

[hardparts2]

Well I ordered my 60 lbs of live rock if theres going to be ammonia in the tank I might as well start curing my rock. Is 60 lbs going to be enough rock for a 55g to look good?

 

[Nautilus1]

Well I ordered my 60 lbs of live rock if theres going to be ammonia in the tank I might as well start curing my rock. Is 60 lbs going to be enough rock for a 55g to look good?

That one is up to you

 

[ChrisRD]

I agree - it depends on the density of the rock and how much rock you like in your tank. A lot of folks don't like to fill the tank with rock and prefer to leave room for coral growth and fish to swim.

If it's a lighter rock like Fiji, Marshall, etc., 60 lbs would plenty in a 55 - at least for my taste.