Ammonia in our tap water

[svns gunner]

We've been trying to figure out why we can't seem to get the ammonia in our tank down to 0 even with water changes. Tonight I tested our tap water and, sure enough, ammonia (between .25 and .5 on the API test).

Our LFS says that they use the tap water without any conditioners and that we should be fine without any.

Everything else tests out fine Nitrites are 0, Nitrates are about 5.

Thoughts from the experts?

 

[theotheragentm]

You should always use water conditioner just in case. You never know when the city will change its water composition. Make sure to test your water after it has been sitting out for 24 hours. Chloramines will sometimes register as ammonia on tests. That's even more reason to use a water conditioner.

 

[Coler]

In terms of value for money and multi-tasking Seachem Prime is diamond for this sort of thing, and generally. Here is a link http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/Prime.html

it detoxifies Chlorine and Chloramine, and heavy metals, and ammonia and nitrite at the doses given on the bottle (not an excuse for water changes though just useful in an emergency, and in your instance, to treat the tap water before adding to the tank)

 

[Rbishop]

Use Prime...it detoxifies the ammonia so it isn't harmful to the fish, but still available for the bacteria.

It will still indicate on most tests, but in a well established aquarium you should read zero in about 24-48 hrs.

 

[echoofformless]

Definitely use Prime or Amquel with all new water from the tap. But still I am thinking that if you have an effective biofiltration happening, then adding a small amount of ammonia with new water should not in any way cause a problem as the bacteria will take care of it.

 

[southpaw]

I will just repeat what has been said already...Use some Prime

 

[H3D]

Ditto on the Prime.

 

[Star_Rider]

if you are using a municiple water supply contact them and ask them about the ammonia in the water. I would not expect ammonia but it is possible there are chloramines(chlorine bonded with ammonia to make chlorine more stable)

if it is just ammonia I wouldn't owrry too much as the bio filter should render it harmless pretty quickly.if it is due to chloramine then do as suggested and get prime to breka it down. prime will also turn NH3 into NH4 the less toxic ammonium,