Tap Water With Ammonia

[mattvillas]

Hello. I didn't realize it at first, but I have eventually recognized that something wasn't right when doing my weekly water changes.
I have an API freshwater test kit as well as a Seachem Ammonia Alert (which I've read only shows a reading for the toxic ammonia) inside the tank. I use Prime in the water before I add it to the tank. Yet everytime I do a water change the Ammonia alert shows an ammonia spike and the fish are clearly affected by it (swimming to the side of the tank as if trying to get away.)
I purchased some Ammonia Remover and plan on using it in the new water before adding it next time. But is anyone else having a problem like this? I've searched the forums and elsewhere and the consensus answer seems to be "add Prime to the new water" but that doesn't seem to be doing the trick. One of my two dalmation mollies died yesterday afternoon (No clear indication as to why; all other fish seem fine.) I am really starting to stress over it since a lot of this is still new to me.
I know that you are not supposed to use filtered or purified water but is that an option? Is there anything you can add to that type of water so the fish can get the minerals or whatever that they need or would get from tap water?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Danbarb]

Hi, My tapwater also has a small amount of ammonia. I use a product called Amquel Plus, but I also mix my water change with RO. I had similar issues as yourself, but using Amquel Plus instead of my previous water conditioner remedied this.

I also put a very small amount of stress zyme in with my water change, which helps virtually remove the ammonia along with the amquel plus.

The bad thing about the Amquel I found was, the product itself stinks! But when it's in the tank it doesn't smell, just the bottle itself.

Anyway, that's what I used to remedy my ammonia in tapwater issue.

My suggestion would be to actually test the tap water before using a conditioner. Write the results down. Then use conditioner (correct amount), and test again.

That way you have some point of reference and can eradicate the new water you are putting into the tank, as a problem.

 

[CrustyOnEastCoast]

See my sig below, my tap water is terrible. I use RO Water and add Seachem Replenish to it, which adds the neccesary trace elements the fish need.

I had killed my earlier set of fish from my water changes using my tap water, since those water changes were greatly increasing the ammonia load in the tank!

Intersting comment above, though, Danbarb, about Amquel Plus. Is it better at removing/detoxifying ammonia than Seachem Prime?

 

[mattvillas]

Thank for both suggestions. I will look into both options. I have a question about the RO water solution.. If I go to my local grocery store that has the machines that fill the 5-gallon water jugs, is that water RO or a suitable replacement for RO water?