Quick followup about ammonia in tap water

[eohippus]

I wrote recently about getting high ammonia readings after water changes even though my tank has been established since October 2007. Someone suggested testing the tap water. I did and it came up as 0.25.

I use SeaChem Prime with every water change, but do I have to worry about the fact that in "cleaning" the water I'm actually adding more ammonia?

Also, just added 6 neon tetras to this 14 gallon tank which previously had only 3 danios in it and had had a vacuuming and 25% water change the day before. Two days later the ammonia was over .5. Did a 50% water change immediately. (Should have tested the water right after, but didn't).

Does that seem like a high jump in ammonia for those 6 tiny fish?

[Star_Rider]

prime will lock up NH3 ammonia converting it to a less harmful NH4.

you may be seeing this in the tests. but keep an eye on the water.. dose a bit more prime.

[Weezer]

My AMMO is 1.0 - 2.0, if there is ammo in the tap it will still show up, your cycled tank should process it in about 12 - 24 hours, Prime should take care of the toxsitity......:)

[Rbishop]

Try that tank reading 24 hrs later after the water change...it should be zero.

[jm1212]

as long as you are adding prime, it will be detoxifying any ammoina added during the water change

[Blueiz]

I suggest getting an ammo alert. You put this in your tank and it registers only the harmful form of ammonia. This will ease your mind concerning the ammonia levels, and save you some time testing for it.

Yes, adding fish will raise your parameters until the biological filter catches up. This is called a mini cycle. Test for nitrites as well to confirm the addition of fish sparked a mini cycle and just do water changes accordingly..:)

Blue

[BoredAgain]

The reading on my tap water is .25, this isn't a problem for an established tank.

You could see signs of a mini cycle when adding any number of fish to such a small tank.

[eohippus]

Thanks. That's reassuring. And congrats Blueiz.