ammonia in my planted?

Discussion in 'Freshwater Aquariums' started by Gexx, Mar 4, 2014.

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  1. Gexx

    Gexx Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2009
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    Location:
    Lansing, Michigan
    ok so heres the story. i have a 1gal planted tank in my dorm room.

    i put an inch of peat in the bottom ( i think this is the culprit) then sand and gravel.

    fertilizer: .1mL of Flourish excel daily, .1mL of Flourish comprehensive after water change

    lights two plant lights (T8 17W each) which are high wattage. (the tank is under a grow strip, other house plants are under it also)

    The tank has been setup for 3 months now.

    Params:
    .25 ammonia :angry:
    .25 Nitrite :angry:
    .25Nitrate
    pH is 7.8

    weekly water changes =50% (RO water)

    I want to add shrimp in a couple weeks when i upgrade to a 2.5 gal, but nothing is going in until i sort this out. I think it is the decomposition of the peat, which has been in the tank since the beginning. Can anyone confirm this, or have any other ideas?
     
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  3. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

    Joined:
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    Couple things, one I noticed is API test ktis are very hard to read with the ammonia and 0 and .25 are almsot the same if that is the kit you used.

    Also what is your pH?? Ammonia is only a concern with higher pH. Thats is why in SW ammonia is so deadly. With FW as your tank becoems mroe acidic, which I assume yours is based on using peat moss, ammonia is harmless!!!

    As for nitrates your level is acceptable. Nitrite is the main concern in FW and where your problem lies. You doing large WC, ahve any biolaod to help keep a cycle going??
    Such a small tank but I had a stalled cycle for months and addign a biowheel filter helepd me big time.
     
  4. Gexx

    Gexx Giant Squid

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    They are API. I had some shrimp and a snail, gave the snail away and the shrimp have since died. all but one.

    my pH is 7.8
     
  5. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

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    pH 7.8 is too high for ammonai to be a non cern. My FW was udner 7 so it didnt matter lol. I believe shrimp like acidic water, been awhile since Ive gone the FW route though
     
  6. Gexx

    Gexx Giant Squid

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    Location:
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    ok. i plan on upgrading to a 2.5 in a week. I wont be using peat moss, just black tahitan sand. ill see what happens after that.

    Also, I am going to take some of my sand/gravel from my tank to seed the new tank. as well as the plants in my 1 gal.