High Ammonia in tap

DjBootleg

I'm having high reading of ammonia in my 20 G tank.. So I tested straight from my tap and its reading in the .50 ppm!!!.. I'm using API Master Kit.. I would do a water change but ill just be putting more ammonia in...

Any advice?
Posted via Mobile Device

Reefing Madness

RO or Distilled water.

DjBootleg

Ro?
Posted via Mobile Device

Reefing Madness

Reverse Osmosis

beaslbob

what is your ammonia reading? And are you using an ammonia lock like prime or amquell? (spelling)

Could be the ammonia is all locked up if you are using chemicals.


The api ammonia kit is extremely hard to read for saltwater at the lowest (.25ppm) level. I ran a tank for 9 years and always got .25ppm with that test kit.

if you do a 10% water change you water will only add .05ppm ammonia which should be easily consumed by aerobic bacteria and algae.

So I don't think the replacement water has much effect on the ammonia. What does is the bioload and tank conditions.

I would consider adding macro algaes to consume the ammonia directly and in a refugium to protect the macros from the livestock.


my .02

Shewbert

A good quality refugium should cure your probs.
Test it morning and night for a week and post the results on here.
RAY

DjBootleg

Whoa, I never heard of a "refugium" before.. But from Google said its expensive... Lol, Not looking to spend that much for a little ammonia...... Any other ideas?

DjBootleg

And just to make sure.. You know my tank is freshwater correct?

Jakiebabie

Your thread is in the Saltwater section under Water Chemistry. I moved it into the FW section.

beaslbob

In that case you can do a planted tank to take care of the ammonia. Live plants actually prefer to consume ammonia to get nitrogen.

The idea of a refugium is still valid if you have fish that eat plants. Just like in marine tanks with macro algae.

But a refugium is just a protected area where the plants can grow and thrive free of the fish. So all you would need for instance is just a partition so the tank has a small plant area and a larger fish area. Not the expensive external refugiums/sump available commercially.


my .02