I'm new. I live in FL (East Coast) and have well water. We've never had a problem in any of our tanks till lately with whopping amonia spikes from our water. Our tanks, and we have plenty, are set up with gravel and we recently switched to a pea size gravel. My question is could something in the pea gravel be causing the spikes. We have been doing ammo carb in all the filters, but still need to use products like Prime in order to bring levels down. Something else that I can't understand is when we treat the tanks with the Prime, the tanks still tests for amonia. It says it immediately lowers the levels, but test results remain the same. Is it taking the amonia out or breaking down the amonia? This is getting to be a real mystery, can anyone give me some guidelines? Thanks
Hi Everyone, need some help
- Thread starter Nancy9647
- Start date
Welcome to AC!!
Prime turns ammonia into a non toxic form. Your test kit will still read positive, even tho the ammonia isnt harmful to your fish.
How long has your tank been set up, has it cycled?
Another thing to note, chlorine and chloramine are turned to ammonia and then removed by your biofilter. Are you testing your water right after a water change?
You may also get more advice if you post your question in the freshwater section as well..
Prime turns ammonia into a non toxic form. Your test kit will still read positive, even tho the ammonia isnt harmful to your fish.
How long has your tank been set up, has it cycled?
Another thing to note, chlorine and chloramine are turned to ammonia and then removed by your biofilter. Are you testing your water right after a water change?
You may also get more advice if you post your question in the freshwater section as well..
Lupin
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- Sep 21, 2006
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Welcome!
You might want to experiment by drawing a cupful of water into a clear glass. Test as is. Let the glass set a full 24 hours and then re-test. Compare results. Do not treat he water with any chemicals. This will show you the degree of ammonia in the water. It is possible that your well is contaminated by the new gravel.
Did this problem exist before switching the gravel? If your well is contaminated with ammonia it isn't safe for human consumption and qualifies as non-potable water. You may need the services of an environmental/water quality professional.
ammonia limits for human consumption:
<0.05 mg/L unionized NH3 (WAH) <6.4 mg/L Total NH3/NH4 -N
(at pH 7.4 and 15C)
You might want to experiment by drawing a cupful of water into a clear glass. Test as is. Let the glass set a full 24 hours and then re-test. Compare results. Do not treat he water with any chemicals. This will show you the degree of ammonia in the water. It is possible that your well is contaminated by the new gravel.
Did this problem exist before switching the gravel? If your well is contaminated with ammonia it isn't safe for human consumption and qualifies as non-potable water. You may need the services of an environmental/water quality professional.
ammonia limits for human consumption:
<0.05 mg/L unionized NH3 (WAH) <6.4 mg/L Total NH3/NH4 -N
(at pH 7.4 and 15C)
Catpicklesdog
Hindsight is a wonderful thing!
