Ammonia Problem!!! New Tank

[SirJeepALot]

Ok, First, let me say that I got my new tank this weekend and I am stoked about it! I got:
55 Gallon, tank stand, cover, lights
Fluval 304 Canister Filter
Gravel/Crushed Coral Substrate (the LFS guy recommended this for African Cichlids)
Submersible Heater
Decorations
Master Test Kit

Ok, so I tested the water after filling the tank. This is what I found:

pH: 8.0
KH: 8
GH: 5
NO2: 0mg/l
NH3/NH4: 5mg/l

I didn't test NO3. Anyway, what in the world could cause my Ammonia to be so high? I can't figure it out. I tested it twice just to be sure. I'm going to test plain water out of the tap today to see if it was something in the substrate, decorations, etc. that could have caused this. I can't believe my tap would have this much ammonia in it. Any ideas? TIA

[JSchmidt]

Did you use Amquel or AmmoLock as water conditioners?

Jim

[SirJeepALot]

Yes, I did put in Ammolock as a water conditioner. Is that the problem?

[OrionGirl]

Certain water conditioners for chlorine/chloramine treatment convert the chloramine into (I think-might be worng) into ammonium. Ammonium is a bound form of ammonia which can be used by bacteria, but isn't deadly to fish in the small concentrations normally seen. However, certain test kits detect the total ammonia, which includes this ammonium. This is most likely what is happening here--you should be able to determine by readin all the fine print on the instructions for the test. You can get a test kit that won't give false positives from ammonium presence--I think Salifert's? Please double check that, since I am speaking from memory here and my memory sometimes fails. :o

[JSchmidt]

Yes, AmmoLock will give you a false positive with most ammonia test kits. The common ammonia test kits use the Nessler method of measuring ammonia. Nessler kits have only one reagent or chemical that is exposed to the water sample.

What you need is a salicylate kit. Salicylate ammonia tests have two reagents - one that you add to the sample immediately and second that is added about 5 minutes later. A salicylate kit will give you accurate readings in the presence of AmmoLock or Amquel.

HTH,
Jim

[SirJeepALot]

The kit I have is by Tetra:
http://www.888aquarium.com/images/testkit_tetra.jpg

Anyway, there are three reagents for measuring the Ammonia. The steps in this kit are as follows:
1. Measure 5ml of Tank Water
2. Use 14 drops of reagent 1
3. Mix
4. Use 7 drops of reagent 2
5. Mix
6. Use 7 drops of reagent 3
7. Mix
8. Wait 20 minutes

So that's what I did. I'm not sure what type of test this is since it uses 3 reagents to test ammonia.

EDIT: I tested it again last night and it was at 3mg/l, so i appears to have come down a little bit, but still very high. I think it has to be a false reading caused by the Ammolock.

[JSchmidt]

From the Tetra web site ( ):

"Tetratest Total Ammonia kit is safe and accurate to use with other chemical products that remove or reduce ammonia from the aquarium and which can cause interference with less-expensive single reagent test methods."

If you're not getting false positives, what could be causing ammonia in that high of a concentration out of the tap? Have you tried testing a sample of water from the tap, before adding dechlorinator?

Jim

[SirJeepALot]

I don't know. It's really strange. I'm going to test tap water tonight. I was planning on doing that last night; however, I forgot! I'll do it tonight and let y'all know what the result is. Thanks for everyone's input on this. If anyone else has anything then feel free to throw it out.

[SirJeepALot]

Okay, so I tested my tap water this morning. I filled the vial right from the sink, and it showed 3mg/l ammonia. That simply cannot be right. Anybody have any ideas on what could cause this? I'm beginning to think that my reagents may have been tainted or something. My next step is to take a cup of water for testing to my LFS. I would gladly welcome any other ideas!

Thanks!

[Faramir]

Chloramine?

[JSchmidt]

Call you local water utility and see if they add chloramines to your water. 3 ppm ammonia would be the highest level I've ever heard associated with chloramines, but calling the water utility would be a good first step.

If the LFS is on the same water system, they could confirm if that is a reasonable level of ammonia given their experience.

Jim