Omg Ammonia In My Tap Water!

[Twinklecaz]

So one of my GBRs has been looking sick and hiding since I did my waterchange earlier today. I just tested the tank water and it's shown up with an Ammonia reading (I've lost my cards but from memory it's about 1.0 - pale green). I was very confused as to how this could possibly have happend as I didn't even turn my filter off today let alone let it dry out. Anyway, I just tested my tap water and it's EXACTLY the same reading.

What can I do about this? I don't even understand why there is suddenly Ammonia in my water supply. How can that happen?

Really need some idea's guys because my little GBR isn't looking at all happy.

 

[Zikofski]

i have no idea what the rules are but could contact your water supply could be contaminated from some where

 

[chrisjj]

i think they put ammonia in the water supply to make it safe for us to drink , thats what the guy in my lfs said anyway.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Ok this is weird. The tap I was referring to is my bathroom tap, which I always use for waterchanges. I tested the water from there when I first started fish keeping and a few times since and it's always been fine so whatever has caused this is new. BUT I just tested the water from the cold tap in the kitchen and it's totally clear.

Do you think this means there's something rotting in the water tank causing water that comes from there to be contaminated but not the cold kitchen tap which obvioulsy doesn't come from there?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

It should all be coming of the same place. Recheck both taps to make sure there wasn't an error in the testing.

 

[Cazgar]

If the water is coming from a storage tank, then yes, there is a possibility it's been contaminated in some way.
The water in your kitchen comes directly from the mains.

 

[Zikofski]

i would recommend not using hot water form the tap always use cold water and to heat it up leave a heater in over night or even use a kettle i found my hot water ph is like 8.7 where as my actually ph of the cold water is around 7.6 to 8

 

[Liamm]

What country do you live in?

 

[Zikofski]

i live in the uk, surrey

 

[Twinklecaz]

I'm going out so I just did a v quick emergency WC(about 40%) using the cold tap downstairs (now I'm worried about temp drop too but I decided it was the lesser of the evils) and I'll have to do a proper big change in the morning. I know 40% won't help greatly but it will a little bit until tomorrow.

I tested Ph, copper, everything from all my taps when I started out. The PH was always the same (7.6). I guess it could have changed though? That heater idea is a good one though thanks, I've got a spare heater so I easily could.

I'm going to check again the morning with my Salifert kits just the varify it isn't the API one messing around or something.

I'm in England btw Liam.

 

[Liamm]

Ha, I meant the OP, should've been more specific.


Edit: The legal limit for ammonia in tap water is 0.50 ppm if I remember correctly, twinklecaz.

 

[StandbySetting]

There's no way you can say that it is over the legal limit, first of all you're guessing, second of all the test kit isn't accurate or precise enough.

Check your hot water tank, it should be covered because crap can and will find its way in there and rot.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Update: Just got in and tested Ammonia in tank again and it's clear. I'm guessing this is due to a mix of 40% WC and the A-Bacs in my filter catching up. Unwell looking GBR looks a little better/more active but her breathing is still very fast. Not so much her gills but her mouth is moving really fast. I guess it'll take her a while to get over the poisoning??? Hope she looks better in the morning.

Tomorrow will be serious testing with both kits of all taps. Raaa.

Thanks for all your help guys.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

What kind of Dechlorinator do you use?

 

[Twinklecaz]

Prime. Only the best lol!