Ammonia and PH

[globemaster]

I have a new system set up for 3 weeks.

My levels have been pretty consistent from the start i.e

for first 10 days

Ammonia 0.3
Nitrite 0.1
Nitrate 20
PH 9

My last 2 readings this week have shown

Ammonia 0.1
Nitrate 10
Nitrite 0
PH 9

My question is should i still be expecting a reading of Ammonia at this stage and is this connected to a high PH reading which has been been the same throughout.

I know its have patience but its getting harder everytime i go to my lfs not to buy some livestock.

Look forward to hearing your views.

[Timo]

Is your Ph 9 or 7.9?

9 is way to high! What are you adding to up your Ph?

[globemaster]

PH is 9.0 and has always been that from day 1. I have added nothing to the tank apart from some old live rock which was left in old water for a week or so, it may have died off but would have expected higher levels of ammonia ? and some new live rock.

What can I do

[mousehunter22]

Have you had your water tested by your LFS???

I ask because when i set my tank up i was getting a high ammonia reading so i got a friend to test it with his kit and it came up zero and then when i got it tested by my LFS it was zero as well so my test kit was a dudd:D

[mad pierre]

What are you using to measure the PH?
If its a pen or probe then I would check it against a couple of calibration fluids (preferably 7 and 10) as that reading seems very high. Have you been adding anything to up your calcium (or anything else)?

Peter

[globemaster]

Just a normal test kit and nothing has been added.

[MR Teee]

Looking at the ammonia -> nitrite -> nitrate, it has nearly finished cycling. A reading of nitrate at zero would be preferable, but 10 is pretty good. Once the Ph issue is sorted (see below) I would say that you can start to very slowly add stock.

A reading of 0.1 on the test kit, is usually the test kit. I have never been able to get one that reaches zero.

I cant agree on the Ph being 9 though. Something is wrong. I suspect it will be the test kit. Is there any way you can get a second opinion on the Ph test to determine if yours is wrong?

[mad pierre]

As MR Teee said, I would get a second opinion. Take a smple to your LFS and ask them to test it, if theres no other members in your area able to help.

Peter