Ammonia In My Tap Water...and A Lot Of It.

[JBetta]

So after so after trying to diagnose my Betta over and over I finally have found the source. When I tested my tap water(not in the fishes tank) it has a bit more then 1ppm of ammonia. My Betta's tail has started to wear apart and his belly gets swollen when I do water changes. My tank isn't cycled either since I barely just got him and I am struggling with getting it started. I tried prime and it helps a bit but he keeps losing more and more of his fins. What do I do? Should I give up and try again, or can this be fixed?

 

[Mikaila31]

what are you using to test ammonia?

 

[JBetta]

what are you using to test ammonia?

API I got it from petsmart.

 

[JBetta]

Sorry forgot to put this info in.

Tank size:
pH:6.6
ammonia:little bit more then 1ppm
nitrite:0ppm
nitrate:0ppm
tank temp:77 Degrees Fahrenheit

Fish Symptoms:
He has a stress stripe too.
Volume and Frequency of water changes:
My tank is 5 gals. I do 50% water change every other day since it nothers my Betta and am trying to start the cycle.
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:
Heater and Power Filter. Only thing I put in is Prime.
Tank inhabitants:
None
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
I took everything out because I thought something was ripping his fins. I did have a live plant but I took it out also.

 

[JBetta]

Help?

 

[the biffster]

Help?

draw a glass of water off
and leave it to stand over
night then test it in the
morning

 

[JBetta]

Will do! Thanks.

 

[JBetta]

The ammonia levels came to .5 ppm when I let it sit overnight. What does that mean?

 

[the biffster]

The ammonia levels came to .5 ppm when I let it sit overnight. What does that mean?

which colour on the
colour chart first
or second

 

[JBetta]

The ammonia levels came to .5 ppm when I let it sit overnight. What does that mean?

which colour on the
colour chart first
or second

It is the third because the first color is 0 and the next is .25 and it was .5. Is that what you mean?

 

[the biffster]

The ammonia levels came to .5 ppm when I let it sit overnight. What does that mean?

which colour on the
colour chart first
or second

It is the third because the first color is 0 and the next is .25 and it was .5. Is that what you mean?

right i have been reading back over
this thread how much was the ammonia
in your tap water before letting it stand

 

[JBetta]

The ammonia levels came to .5 ppm when I let it sit overnight. What does that mean?

which colour on the
colour chart first
or second

It is the third because the first color is 0 and the next is .25 and it was .5. Is that what you mean?

right i have been reading back over
this thread how much was the ammonia
in your tap water before letting it stand

It was at 1 ppm but I let the tank water sit not tap water.

 

[the biffster]

so its 1 ppm out of the tap
i getting a bit confused
sorry

 

[JBetta]

so its 1 ppm out of the tap
i getting a bit confused
sorry

Sorry! I am not good at explaining. Yes the tap water is 1 ppm.

 

[the biffster]

sorry i got confused
and it drops over night to
0.50ppm it sounds like the
only thing is ammolock