Fish in cycle Amonia levels

[SDFreshWater]

Fish in cycle Ammonia levels

We just started a 65 gallon tank with 4 zebra danios and a couple other hearty fish. We've been monitoring the ammonia levels which are consistently high despite doing daily water changes. On a whim we decided to test the tap water for ammonia and much to our surprise our tap water registers ammonia levels around 2.0 with an API liquid test kit. It looks like we replacing ammonia water with slightly lower ammonia water. Should be be buying distilled water to get this tank going? We do have a RO drinking water system in the house which we tested and it takes out the ammonia but only produces around 13 gallons of water in 24 hours. This doesn't look like it will cut it for daily water changes. Any advice if your tap water sucks?

 

[Weezer]

Welcome........Our tap ammo tests in that range also, once the tank is cycled it will take care of the ammo, i also use prime for water conditioner, you will still see a reading, but the ammo. will be detoxified, by the way our water dept. swears that the ammo is only .125 not 1.0-2.0 like i read with the api kit..Do not use distilled water..

 

[Coler]

As said above, you need to use a product that will detoxify the ammonia before adding to tank. Seachem Prime is great for this.

Anything over .25ppm in a fish cycle is to be avoided (i.e. dealt with by water change)

 

[jm1212]

use prime or amquel to convert the ammoina to a less toxic state, and then contact your local water treatment plant with this issue. ammoina is just as bad for people as it is for fish.