Salt water ammonia?

Question

I have a 90 gallon aquarium 70 lbs live rock, 100 lbs of sand, wet dry filter system and protein skimmer. Can someone tell me why I get ammonia readings in every test 0.25 (I use red sea) but never any nitrite readings. I do have nitrates. There is 3 fish in the tank each one is 3 inches. Ph is 8.2. I do regular water changes.The tank has been set up for 2 months. I have algae growing and my fish are doing well just confused about the ammonia.

Answer 1

Nitrite is extremely reactive if you have any aeration in the tank. It is coverted to nitrate fairly easily. Ammonia is normally turned to nitrate, but it requires the use of bacteria, which you probably don't allow in your tank at high levels.

I am concerned that you keep getting the same ammonia reading. That is usually an indication of a problem with the test kit or meter (nont familiar with red sea). Dilute some household (non-sudsing) ammonia is water, take a sample from your tank (not in the tank), and slowly add small drops of the dilute solution to your tank water until you see changes. If you add a bunch, either your kit is bad or you diluted it too much. If it goes offscale, you didn't dilute enough.

Answer 2

U can reduce the algae with barley straw ,look on the net. It might help.