Archivarium 2004

[garnpet]

I purchased a used 48 gallon tank last week which contained a truck load of plants. It also included a Fluval 303 filter. The tank was dismanteled on a Saturday and setup in my house the same day.

After 2 days of running I tested the water before starting to cycle the tank. The level of ammonia is currently 1 ppm without doing anything to start the cycle process. Is this normal?

Where is the ammonia coming from? Should I be concerned about the filter? The plants are not doing well, can this add to the ammonia level?
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26 g bow-front

6 Zebra Danios, 8 White Clouds, 7 Neon Tetras
5 Corydoras, 2 BN pleco

48 g
work in progress

[Pi]

If the plants have brown edges, or look sickly otherwise, they could be adding to the ammonia level (rotting organic matter).

Pi

[esoteric]

The tap water where I live has .25-.50 ppm of Ammonia.

Have you tested yours?
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"Workin' hard sometimes can help ya' maintain..."

[garnpet]

I tested the tap water and it is between .25 and .5 ppm ammonia. That might explain a few things!

Also the plants being in the shape they are might explain the higher than .5 ppm reading.

Thanks for the ideas.
_________________
26 g bow-front

6 Zebra Danios, 8 White Clouds, 7 Neon Tetras
5 Corydoras, 2 BN pleco

48 g
work in progress