Help!!!!!

[adamlodge14]

My new tank (15 gallons) is about 2 1/2 months old with a Yasha goby/ shrimp pair and a cleaner shrimp with some soft corals. I finished the cycle about 4 weeks ago but have had a spike of ammonia going to 0.55
I am going to do an immediate 20% water change and add more beneficial bacteria.
Should I do anything else?
The fish and shrimp seem fine and have actually been getting more confident (I have seen the goby/shrimp pair a lot more today.
Please help
I should mention that about 1 week ago my goby managed to jump into the filter compartment,meaning I had to take all the filtration out for about 30 min, would this affect the ammonia?

 

[Fish Think Pink]

That is almost the exact colour as my test! Also yes it is 0.55 ppm.
And yes I have a good colony of beneficial bacteria in the tank that breaks down the food, I also have a nassarius snail that eats leftovers.
I can’t seem to find the source of ammonia which makes me think a spike isn’t happening. I am going ahead with the water changes just in case and see what happens.
I tested my ro water btw and it came up as 0.25 ammonia which is impossible

My brain read your number as FIVE point five.... .55 not great but also not likely critical

 

[adamlodge14]

If all livestock is perfectly fine, its probably a bad test. You can use some Prime if you are concerned, but absent any other symptoms other than an API ammonia test, I wouldnt worry too much.

My tank has been cycled for over 1 1/2 months and all of the livestock is thriving and actually doing increasingly better

 

[adamlodge14]

My brain read your number as FIVE point five.... .55 not great but also not likely critical

I really hope it isn’t critical!

 

[Gtinnel]

That is almost the exact colour as my test! Also yes it is 0.55 ppm.
And yes I have a good colony of beneficial bacteria in the tank that breaks down the food, I also have a nassarius snail that eats leftovers.
I can’t seem to find the source of ammonia which makes me think a spike isn’t happening. I am going ahead with the water changes just in case and see what happens.
I tested my ro water btw and it came up as 0.25 ammonia which is impossible

Most likely everything is going to be fine, it is worth making sure it is a bad test by using a better test kit, but it is nothing to panic about.

Also many salt mixes (maybe all salt mixes I'm not sure) can have a small amount of ammonia the key is that the bacteria in your tank will process it quickly so it isn't an issue.

 

[adamlodge14]

Most likely everything is going to be fine, it is worth making sure it is a bad test by using a better test kit, but it is nothing to panic about.

Also many salt mixes (maybe all salt mixes I'm not sure) can have a small amount of ammonia the key is that the bacteria in your tank will process it quickly so it isn't an issue.

I use redsea coral pro salt btw.
And I have ordered a salifert ammonia test just to be safe
I cannot express how grateful I am for all the help everyone has been giving me help on this forum. You guys are seriously awesome! I love this forum so much.
I have just done the 20% water change and added bacteria. I’m going to bed now as it’s quite late in the uk but will update you all first thing tomorrow!

 

[adamlodge14]

Hi guys- update:

I did a 20% water change last night and added beneficial bacteria to the tank.
This morning as soon as I woke up I tested the ammonia again. It was showing around the 0.27 mark - it has considerably come down from last night. I am going to do another 20% water change today and see if that helps even more. All the fish and critters are doing really well and seem to be quite happy. Even one of the zoas I have that hasn’t been to happy lately has completely opened up this morning
A salifert ammonia test is arriving tomorrow so that I can check my REAL results.

 

[Gtinnel]

Hi guys- update:

I did a 20% water change last night and added beneficial bacteria to the tank.
This morning as soon as I woke up I tested the ammonia again. It was showing around the 0.27 mark - it has considerably come down from last night. I am going to do another 20% water change today and see if that helps even more. All the fish and critters are doing really well and seem to be quite happy. Even one of the zoas I have that hasn’t been to happy lately has completely opened up this morning
A salifert ammonia test is arriving tomorrow so that I can check my REAL results.

Glad to hear it although I would've been shocked if anything happened to your tank overnight because you almost definitely don't have an ammonia problem.
Once you get the better ammonia test my advice is to quit checking your ammonia levels in the tank, unless you have some reason to suspect you have high ammonia.
If you'll notice I have said how horrible API ammonia tests are but that is the only ammonia test that I have, because until last night it had been close to a year since I measured my ammonia. If/when your tank has small amounts of ammonia your bacteria will quickly convert it so it isn't anything to worry about.
BTW I really like your shrimp, goby pair.

 

[adamlodge14]

Hooray!!!
I got the salifert ammonia test and it is actually 0ppm instead of what api said was 0.55
I now don’t trust api tests at all. I may get myself the whole set for salifert tests. And ye I think I will follow your advice gtinnel, I will only check when I think something is wrong. I have been doing that with freshwater for years. I will still do regular phosphate, nitrate, magnesium and calcium tests though.
And thanks so much for all the help! I’m just gonna dump a few photos of my tank down below for you to enjoy

 

[adamlodge14]

Here are some pics

 

[vetteguy53081]

Good 'old API test kits. To be SAFE AS OTHERS SUGGESTED - WATER CHANGE-25% likely adequate.
Before water change, collect a sample in a clean container and take it to an LFS that you trust who does Not use API test kits and see what reading they come up with and for comparison

 

[vetteguy53081]

And I see you resolved the water test issue. Grab a Stout and enjoy the tank !!

 

[Gtinnel]

I will still do regular phosphate, nitrate, magnesium and calcium tests though.

Seems like a good plan, I'd add alkalinity to that list as well. Alk is actually the one I test more than anything else.

That is a great close up of the cleaner shrimp.

 

[adamlodge14]

Seems like a good plan, I'd add alkalinity to that list as well. Alk is actually the one I test more than anything else.

That is a great close up of the cleaner shrimp.

Yea I should get an alkalinity one aswell because the api one is definitely malfunctioning. It once showed me that I had 17 khd.
I’ll add it to the list