QT and ammonia

[e_reef]

I set up a QT last night, added salt water, a heater, a thermometer, and an air pump. I plan on adding some PVC but still have like 2 days before I get my fish. The last thing in it is a Seachem ammonia alert. It hasn't been 24 hours yet, but the ammonia alert has gone from "safe" to a little bit between "alert" and "alarm". Is this normal in an empty tank? What would be causing the ammonia?

[jraker]

The tank is not cycled yet. Get some prime to get rid of the ammonia.

[CarrieB]

If there is no organic matter in the tank then there shouldn't be ammonia. However, there have been a couple of posts where people have seen unexplained ammonia on their water. In one case I think the guy blamed a nearby catbox and another was investigating his water.


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[e_reef]

Well the water is RODI, so should be good.

The alert has had circles appear on it ranging colors from safe at the innermost to parts to toxic at the outermost parts. Honestly, I think I just have a defective alert. I verified with my RedSea test kit, and that was reading 0 ammonia, so I'll just be replacing the alert and see how it goes from there.