General Care Discussion :: Ammonia and water conditioner question

[Bumby's Mom]

How do I test for ammonia? I bought a 5 in 1 testing kit since the pet sotre told me not to get another pleco before testing my water. The testing kit I have doesn't say anything about ammonia. Everything but the alkalinity was in safe ranges. The alkalinity says it is low? (I have no idea what that even is). I also bought a water conditioner for turtles that says it removes ammonia, chlorine and some other things but it also says that it ADDS stuff so I am worried about putting it in. It says it is safe for aquarium and drinking water for other lizards and reptiles.
(In case no one read my other thread, my pleco just died and I have only had him for a month.)

[megcornell]

What 5 things does the strip test for? Usually ammonia, pH, nitrates, nitrites, and chlorine are popular ones. If your test doesn't show ammonia, I'd get another test. You can tell a lot from the nitrate and nitrite levels but you should also be keeping an eye on the ammonia.
What does the conditioner add? Is it a booster for beneficial bacteria?
Ideally you want the nitrogen cycle running in your tank- it breaks ammonia from waste and uneaten food into nitrites and then into less harmful nitrates which are removed in partial water changes.
If your ammonia levels are too high the new fish will die so you do want to get that under control before adding anything new animal wise.

[SpotsMama]

A good kit that tests all the things megcornell listed except chlorine is Aquarium Pharmeceuticals' Master Freshwater Test Kit. It contains lots of solution so it lasts a long time and it has good directions for doing the tests and interpreting the results.

Ammonia and nitrite are toxic if they build up and they are invisible, so it's very important to know that your bio filter is processing them adequately. Nitrate isn't toxic but if it starts to build up it will cause algae to grow and make your tank smell bad. It the ph is too high it may encourage fungus growth, too low and it will kill off your beneficial bacteria.

Chlorine in the water will kill your fish, of course. most people simply deal with it by adding conditioner or letting the water stand for 24 hours before adding the fish.

[Bumby's Mom]

The test kit is for pH, nitrite, nitrate, alkalinity (buffering capacity), and hardness. The other test I looked at measured all of these and chlorine. I add a dechlorinator whenever I do a 100% water change but I never add any when I top up the water (should I be adding it?). Everything was in safe range except the hardness was too low. I got the kind of test where you stick the little paper in the water and then each swatch turns color depending on the amount thats in the tank.
The conditioner is:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... isafe&sr=1
and it says:
When used in habitat water or drinking water, ReptiSafe water conditioner instantly removes chlorine, chloramines, and ammonia; adds essential electrolytes, stimulates the protective slime coat development and reduces pH. Instantly makes water safer for all types of snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, amphibians, hermit crabs and arachnids. ReptiSafe is the only terrarium water conditioner on the market. For use in reptile bowls, chameleon drip water systems, or aquatic turtle tanks. Contains no harsh chemicals.

Ingredients: Purified water, herbal extracts, organic colloids, organic chelating agents, electolytes, essential vitamins and minerals.

Does this sound safe? The only thing I would need it for would be the chlorine (which I already have a dechorinator) and the ammonia.

[iac637]

I have used this product for a year now with no problems

[megcornell]

I use reptisafe in my tank, it's fine, I think it does a pretty nice job of dechlorinating. Just make sure you use the right amount-- too much can make the surface of the water look greasy.

[iac637]

yeah I use it in all my tanks all 4 of them

[Bumby's Mom]

Ok, I will drain the tank tomorrow and then try that out. Do I have to wait a certain amount of time before putting the turtles back in? I usually wait an hour before putting the babies back in the tank even though the directions on my dechlorinator don't say that.

[iac637]

I swish around the water a little and put them right back in the tank

[Bumby's Mom]

I will do that. Thanks for sharing

[iac637]

anytime we are in the mist of water changes right now:\