false ammonia readings questions

[klfvilla]

So, a few days ago I bought the API Freshwater Master Test Kit and started testing. Tank has been up 4 weeks, its a 5g with a male betta, two sunshine coral dwarf platys and two plants, one I can't remember the name, the other java fern. Nitrite & Nitrate keep showing 0, ammonia keeps showing something between .25 to .5 (hard to tell the slight colour variances). I know I've been doing too many water changes and thats why I can't see any Nitrite/ates but I've been worried about possible ammonia. Now that I have the right test, I am still not getting any relief from my troubles. I am on City water, filled with chloramines, or else we humans would likely die from drinking it. Tap water tests same as my Aquasafe treated water and both test the same as the tank water. The Aquasafe detoxes the ammonia but does not remove it so my tests show in essence a false positive on the ammonia. What to do now? Buy a Seachem ammonia alert? Just check the Nitrite,Nitrate readings and rely on them? I'm about to pull my hair out. It doesn't seem fair that I am still struggling just to get a correct test result. I mistakenly bought the strip tests at first so $20 Canadian there, then $45 for the Master test kit. When will the madness end? :confused:

[musho3210]

since it is only 5 gallons, is there a chance you could use bottled water or something?

[klfvilla]

I guess I COULD use bottled water. I like using tap water because I can fill my bucket, use a glass thermometer in it and make sure the new water was a perfect 79 degrees before adding it and then do a big 50% water change. I guess with bottled water and a different temp., I would only be able to do small water changes so as not to stress my fish with the temperature difference. Room temp is about 70 - 72 I think.

[musho3210]

hmm, it is possible you boil like 1/6 gallon of bottled water, then mix 1/6 of a gallon with room temp water until you get the desired temp.

I dont know if this will work, please correct me if im wrong everyone, you could get a small internal filter, put some zeolite in it, and then run the filter in the new tank water (dont run the filter in the tank)

[Rbishop]

I wouldn't use bottled water, it will slowly cause your tank to lose it's buffering capability.

If the Aquasafe detoxifies the ammonia and leaves it avaiable for the bacteria, monitor by watching your nitrites and nitrates.

[klfvilla]

So, RBishop, should I purchase the SeaChem Ammonia Alert to have some method of checking ammonia? And do daily liquid tests on only nitrites and nitrates and only do pwc when I see something to validate it through those two tests?

[Rbishop]

I don't think the SeaChem alert is called for, but it may give you some comfort. I'm from the school of at least weekly water changes wether you need to or not.

There are other DOC building up regardless of what the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels are. The nitrate test is just an inexpensive and easy test to help show us what is going on in the tank. I wouldn't think you need to test more than every other day, and then start spacing it out as you get the understanding of how your tank responds.

[klfvilla]

Thank you again RBishop. I am going to try to stop wringing my hands and pacing for the water change bucket. Sometime over the summer we will be moving to a rural property and will be on private well water so I won't have this issue for much longer, although I bet the well water will present new challenges. We are renovating there and have installed a reverse osmosis system to help deal with well water nasties which might help. I think after all I've been going through trying to sort out my tiny tank, I might actually get a much bigger tank after we move and very slowly start working on it.

[Rbishop]

Some well water systems can have there issues also. I have a private well here and without issues. When I lived in NY, our well had a lot or iron. You should be able to get a complete water test done at your new place for free or pretty cheap to see what you are dealing with.