Tropical Fish Keeping banner

ammonia in tap water

3K views 13 replies 6 participants last post by  molliefan09 
#1 ·
so i had a 0ppm ammonia reading the first 3 time (consecutive within minutes of eachother to confirm accuracy) i used my APi master freshwater liquid test kit....since then i've rinsed my tubes with tap water and continue to monitor my aquarium daily for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates (i'm a little ocd with it). since those first tests were done i've gotten 0.25ppm ammonia readings from my aquarium. nothing is different except i've rinsed my tubes with tap water. i did the tests on my tap water today and it has 1.0ppm ammonia readings....my question is if i have even just a drop or two in the tube when i do the test on my aquaium would it affect the readings hense the 0.25ppm reading the past 3 day in a row?? i have been doing PWC since the 0.25ppm readings started and using stresscoat + which claims to treat for chlorine, chloramines AND ammonia...i went and purchased PRIME today and treated the entire aquarium with doing a VERY smal PWC (only about 1 gal) my LFS rec. discontinuing PWC as my tank maybe cycling?? my cycle ran it's course could this also be possible?? are they giving me the correcgt advise??:-(
 
#2 ·
well i have a 55 gal with only 4 smaller africans and i started out with those same four fish. my readings nver had the chance to go over .25ppm while i did my weekly w/c but after about 2 weeks of water changes a buddy of mine with a 125 told me to stop testing my water and stop doing w/c for about a month then test your water. which i followed his advice and when i tested my weater after a month the only readings i got were for nitrAtes which arent toxix to fish in lower levels. so you could go that route or you could do the w/c all in all your lfs did give you good advice. others may contridict this and live by there w/c's. after the cycle though i would go back to routenely changing the water to keep fresh clean water in the aquarium every week or two depending on the size and stock of your aquarium.
 
#4 ·
Four small fish in a 55 gal is a different story than seven small fish in a 20 gal.
Ammonia levels will affect smaller tanks more quickly than larger tanks. Dilution capabilities come into play. If you wish to place fish in jepoardy that's one thing,, but to suggest it as possible course of action to another.....:shake:
 
#3 ·
I would not recommend stopping water changes when ammonia levels rise above .25 . I would use PRIME anytime I did a water change which might need to be two gallons to reduce elevated ammonia levels.
Iwould feed the fish once a day or every other day a TINY amount. this will help keep ammonia levels from rising to lethal levels along with the water changes. Leave the filter alone until you see zero for ammonia,and nitrites for four to five consecutive days. Then weekly water changes along with not overfeeding,will be your normal routine. Just takes time. The filter is what you are waiting on to develop the largest portion of the good bacteria needed for your tank to finish the (cycling) process. By leaving it alone, and not overfeeding,and by performing water changes as needed to combat ammonia levels your fish will have the best chance and your tank will mature.has to.
 
#5 ·
thank you both...
moneymitch:i just can;t see letting the little guys swim around in their own pee and poo for so long with out water changes...and my tank IS SOO much smaller then yours and has more fish ijust dont know if they could handle it..please dont think i am second guessing you because i am not!! you have given me VERY helpful advise on many other topics and all advice is greatly appreciated

1077:my only concern with your advise is the feeding...they wont starve?? i mean again, i'm new and i am used to my other kids (the four legged furry kind). i'm REALLY ignorant to the fish feeding as i do not know whats too much how am i gonna know if it;s too little?!?! i am already cut back to once daily feedings and i feel like when i watch them they are telling me they are hungry...as stupid as that may sound....like isaid i only do once daily feedings..
 
#7 ·
Don't worry molliefan, they will not starve on once a day feedings. It's always better to underfeed rather than to overfeed. Adult fish can go days, sometimes weeks, without eating and be just fine. Some fish will eat themselves to death, if you let them (bettas are a classic example). My loaches would gorge themselves to the point of immobility, if I let them. Don't worry, if you are feeding them once a day they are not starving! :)
 
#6 ·
np man was just givin you my personal experiance. i myself now knowing you have a smaller tank would just stick to your w/c's. with the ammonia in your tap water i would look for a conditioner that converts ammonia to ammonium which is less toxic to fish. but this less toxic ammonium will still show up on ur test dont be alarmed. just keep doin your pwc and all will be well.
 
#8 ·
thanks auntkymmie for the settling info! i feel better knowing i wont be starving my kids!! lol....but iforgot....i have a fry in a breeders net hanging on the inside of my tank (i noticed you said"adults)...will he be ok with once daily feedings??
 
#9 ·
Add a tiny pinch of flake (ground up) in the fry pen :) more often as fry do need more food to grow. Kymie is of course correct on the other fish; one flake provides all the nourishment the average fish requires in a day, and if healthy a fish can go days without food. Fish by instinct don't know when they will see their next meal, so they eat what they can when they can. They recognize you as the source of their food, so seeing you will make them eager to eat. Don't be fooled by the clever rascals;-) playing mind games with you.

Byron.
 
#10 · (Edited)
lol.....i guess they already know that i have a soft spot in my heart for animals who act like they are neglected!! hopefully they soon realize i may have pity but i dont give in!! thank you guys for all the input...but my original question was never answered:cry:....can having a couple drops of tap water A(1.0ppm of ammonia according to the test) left in the APi testkit tubes from me rinsing them when i do my aquarium water test affect my readings??
 
#11 ·
yes
and no depend if its clean water. and if it has 1.0 ppm then yes it will affect it.
 
#12 ·
i dont know if you read the first post in this thread but my ammonia in the tank with the tests first use (before rinsing with tap water) was 0ppm ammonia...since the tubes have been used and rinced with tapwater the reading have been at 0.25ppm ammonia.......and yes tap is infact at 1.0ppm ammonia
 
#13 ·
Yes. Before tests, always rinse the vial in the tank water you're going to test. If you rinse it thoroughly after each test at the sink (to remove all the regeant), you can safely rinse it in the tank before collecting the water for the next test. Also don't let the test water come in contact with your fingers, as most of the test kit instructions say.

B.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top