A Bit Of Ammonia From My Tap Water?

[watertown28]

Alright been trying to get my 10 gallon to cycle as some of you know. Ive been getting what I though is some lower readings on ammonia in my tank. Around the .25 reading via the API test kit ( drops ).

No matter how many times or how much I changed my water, always got the same color. I did have one spike once I added 2 more fish to that tank of course fixed via water change.

So, I was thinking, after repeated readings with ammonia in the water no matter how many times or how much water is changed... I decided to test my tap water right out of the tap. Lone and behold... same reading I was getting from the tank ( minus the spike )

Is this normal? Because, well... is there a way to fix that? If I am getting ammonia right out of the tap.. how am I to get the 0 reading then? I guess the only real way to get it is either not change the water at all, or get bottled drinking water from the store... and if that is the case, my new 72 gallon tank is going to be expensive if I ever have to do a massive water change.

Need help on this

edit this is city water not well water...

 

[Joanne_]

I've heard you can use a product call Seachem Prime which removes ammonia from the water.

I personally haven't used it though.

About Seachem Prime

 

[denzil1nil]

I have the exact same problem with my water. My tap and tank read 0.25ppm ammonia. But ive just read through the api liquid testing manual again and for ammonia under testing tips it reads as follows.

This salicylate-based ammonia test kit reads the total ammonia level in ppm which are equivalent to mg/l from 0ppm to 8.0ppm (mg/l). The freshwater ammonia test color chart is the appropiate chart to use for testing freshwater aquariums to which SALT HAS BEEN ADDED.

I dont have any salt added to my aquarium and am unsure wether this is affecting the ammonia result.

Do you use salt? If not this may be affecting the test i dont know for sure but surely someone can help clear this up.

 

[phocoena]

the salt adding to fresh water thing is probrably to do with the salinty levels in the tank.

Seachem Prime doesn't remove the ammonia, it bind's it into the less harmful form - ammonium.

As for the main question - your biological filter will remove the ammonia from the water. That is what you are aiming for.

 

[watertown28]

I have the exact same problem with my water. My tap and tank read 0.25ppm ammonia. But ive just read through the api liquid testing manual again and for ammonia under testing tips it reads as follows.

This salicylate-based ammonia test kit reads the total ammonia level in ppm which are equivalent to mg/l from 0ppm to 8.0ppm (mg/l). The freshwater ammonia test color chart is the appropiate chart to use for testing freshwater aquariums to which SALT HAS BEEN ADDED.

I dont have any salt added to my aquarium and am unsure wether this is affecting the ammonia result.

Do you use salt? If not this may be affecting the test i dont know for sure but surely someone can help clear this up.

Not with every water change. To be honest I have only added part of what was needed only 2 times in the whole cycle thing. So maybe that would help if I add salt?