Habitat - Indoor :: tested for ammonia and got a weird result

[xsavingsaturdayx]

hey,my turtles rubbermaid tub is going through new tank syndrome.I have read thousands of articles regarding this and have been taking everything step by step.In every article i read it said that i should test the water everyday until my rubbermaid finishes cycleing,so i have been doing that and have been getting yellow which indicates that theyre is no ammonia present.But today i tested the water and came back and the water in the tube that i tested was a darker shade of yellow..almost orange.I dont know what it can mean,because on the color testing chart that it comes with doesnt have that kind of color.So im kind of confused,i didnt wanna do a water change because on all the articles it says that i should just leave the water alone and not add any chemicals or extra/takeout water.Also,when going through New tank syndrome does the water get clearer over time because mine has been getting worse and worse,i cant even see my turtles when they submerge underwater .Ugh i hate NTS


P.S. i tested the water 3 times and still got the same result even after rinsing all of the old testing water out.

[CountryGirl68]

If your ammonia levels have spiked, it is recommended that you do a 10% water change every week. The cycling can take up to 6 weeks in a new tank/tub. So the regular water changes are important at this stage.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

If your ammonia levels have spiked, it is recommended that you do a 10% water change every week. The cycling can take up to 6 weeks in a new tank/tub. So the regular water changes are important at this stage.

But if theyre is ammonia it should indicate either a light or very dark green color,mine indicated a color thats not even on the chart.That is why im unsure if i should do a partial water change or not .

[CountryGirl68]

What test kit do you have? If it's a kit, did you use the chemical for nitrite? That test will show orange for high levels of nitrites.

Is the test for reefs/saltwater or freshwater aquariums?
Could the test be expired? They do expire so you may have gotten an old test and not known it.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

I am useing one by aquarium paramacueticals and its for fresh and saltwater use and no i used the chemical for ammonia not nitrite, i only have the kit for ammonia not for nitrite.I guess it "maybe" is expired,ive only had it for a month though.

[grey goose]

This doesnt sound right at all. I have both Ammonia test kits by AP. On the two stage (two bottles) the color card runs yellow to green. The single stage runs from clear 0 ppm to what appears to be a very dark yellow 6 to 7 ppm, which could be construed to be orange. Does your test kit have one bottle or two? Look on the bottle (or box) and see if it says it's for aquarium or pond use.....I suspect you have the test kit for ponds.
New tank syndrome really has nothing to do with your new tank. It should be called new filter syndrome, because that is what is causing the ammonia spikes (I am assuming you are using a new filter and/or new media, yes?). If that is the case then I say do a 10-25% water change at least weekly, more often if needed, if your ammonia levels are "orange", I'd say more often. DON'T CHANGE OUT ALL THE WATER AT ONCE! Use a declorinator. Also go to the pet store and ask for Biozyme (couple of bucks) and follow the directions, it will help to speed up the process. Good luck.
What color is the water?

[xsavingsaturdayx]

This doesnt sound right at all. I have both Ammonia test kits by AP. On the two stage (two bottles) the color card runs yellow to green. The single stage runs from clear 0 ppm to what appears to be a very dark yellow 6 to 7 ppm, which could be construed to be orange. Does your test kit have one bottle or two? Look on the bottle (or box) and see if it says it's for aquarium or pond use.....I suspect you have the test kit for ponds.
New tank syndrome really has nothing to do with your new tank. It should be called new filter syndrome, because that is what is causing the ammonia spikes (I am assuming you are using a new filter and/or new media, yes?). If that is the case then I say do a 10-25% water change at least weekly, more often if needed, if your ammonia levels are "orange", I'd say more often. DON'T CHANGE OUT ALL THE WATER AT ONCE! Use a declorinator. Also go to the pet store and ask for Biozyme (couple of bucks) and follow the directions, it will help to speed up the process. Good luck.
What color is the water?

Yeah i have two bottles and its not for pond use,im suspecting its expired.And yes im useing a new filter and some new media,the color of the water is a milky white sort of,when my turtles submerge i litterally cant see them haha,it hasnt been bothering them but its been bothering me .I heard of biozyme but thats gotta wait till saturday,i lost my wallet on the bus and 40 bucks went with it.. .I heard with turtles,a tank cycles much faster..is it true?

[grey goose]

In theory, a tank should take longer with turts because of the amount of waste they produce. Get some Biozyme when you can, sorry about the wallet thing, I know how that feels. Keep up the water changes, eventually it will clear.....

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Yeah i know it sucks,but oh well.Thanks for the advice though i found it very helpful !

[grey goose]

Also, if you were using another filter before the new one, take some of the old media and put it in the new filter (if you can). That will help speed things up a little....