No fish yet, but toxins in the water?

[Startup]

Hi all, newbie here
I am setting up my tank again after a few years, and have had the (raw) water tested. There are no fish, but amonium and nitrate are present? Anyone know why? I will do some water changes but what else can I do - Will good bacteria establish though there are no fish?

Ta

 

[Dubby]

Welcome to the forum. You can do cycling with and without fish. Please read the pinned articles on cycling.

 

[karrihug]

many water supplies have nitrate present, especially during the summer. and some water supplies also have ammonia. test your water straight from the tap and see what the results are. if it is coming from there then water changes won't help.

 

[Startup]

Thanks
Toxins are in the 'raw' water - so I guess I'm asking if this is the same as starting a fishless cycle , and if good bacteria will now establish based just on the raw water parameters

Thanks

 

[Dubby]

As long as there is sufficient Ammonia present, the bacteria should start growing !!

 

[Startup]

Thanks!
One more Q: if my raw water is like this, is this going to create a problem when I do water changes?

 

[Boggle]

this isn't your tap water you're talking about, is it?

As to creating problems, I think that depends on the levels of ammonia. If they are low, then I don't c why...

 

[Startup]

Yeah, its the tap water. Amonia is low but nitrates higher...

I don't want to create a mini spike each time I do a water change....

 

[Joviella]

Alot of areas have high nitrates in tap water. Its a little worrying that there is ammonia in there too though....I wouldn't fancy drinking out of the tap there!!
Live plants are a good way for a tank to use up excess nitrates. You haven't mentioned nitrites? Have you tested your tap water for these?

 

[Fishy Fishy Man]

ammonia .50ppm
nitrAte 20ppm
nitrIte 0ppm
hardness 120ppm
alkalinity 80
ph7.2

These are the results of a water test done on jordanmum13's tap water. tempestuousfury' opinion on this was that it should be fine to add to the tank. If your's are less then this u shouldn't freat.

FFM

 

[Dubby]

You could use products like AmmoLock that can neutralise Ammonia as well as chlorine & chloramine once you have gone thro the cycling process.