been having issues with ammonia

[Nicknackzz13]

So my tanks cycled im pretty sure, because once it was cycled the ammonia was 0 but after that ive been having issues keeping it down, first i thought overfeeding so cut back and helped a little, now im beginning to think its my tap water that i use and prepare for the tank, i saw that seachem prime is good for adding tap water? i dont want a RODI system, so would buying gallons of distilled water and mixing it with salt be good? for water changes etc?

i believe it is the tap water that is making my ammonia go up and stay up, its always the same inbetween 10-0.25ppm yellow light greenish, also my test kits are fine, so im nearly sure its the tap water... my fish and coral are doing great tho

thanks

 

[ScottMyers123]

If you do not want to purchase an RO/DI system is there a LFS that you could get the water from to mix with salt? As far as using distilled water I have always used ro so I cannot comment on that part.

 

[DED65]

Have you tested your tap water? You can also have the tank water tested at a LFS just in case your test kit is incorrect.

 

[Nicknackzz13]

yes i can buy saltwater mix water!, would i need a 100% water change or just small portions at a time to get the ammonia outta the water and replacing it with new water? yes im gonna test my tap water too! lol

 

[bobman]

Test both but even if ammonia was in the tap water the tank (if cycled completely) should turn whatever ammonia is added into nitrites then nitrates very very quickly so even though tap is a major problem I fail to see it being adding ammonia to an already cycled tank. In the beginning stages a tank can go through many mini cycles. Did you use live rock?

 

[ScottMyers123]

I would change about 10% at a time with store bought water and check your ammonia and see if it is dropping.

 

[bobman]

I have to disagree if there is ammonia then there is not enough bacteria in the tank to convert it. I would leave it and let it cycle again. Or do a 100% water change with RO,RODI,or distilled water to replace the tap water.

 

[BlackFish]

Instead of having an RO system I have five gallon buckets that I fill up at a purified water dispenser in front of my grocery store. That way it's only 30 cents a gallon.

 

[bobman]

Instead of having an RO system I have five gallon buckets that I fill up at a purified water dispenser in front of my grocery store. That way it's only 30 cents a gallon.

I know many that do it this way and all have nice tanks. Some battle alge but so does rodi users so I cant say the water machine is the problem.

 

[morpheas]

I have to disagree if there is ammonia then there is not enough bacteria in the tank to convert it. I would leave it and let it cycle again. Or do a 100% water change with RO,RODI,or distilled water to replace the tap water.

I will have to agree as well. Your system's job once cycled is exactly that breaking down ammonia. If it's inefficient in doing so it means it doesn't have the fauna needed i.e. cycled properly.

So how did you cycle the tank and what were your criteria in deciding the cycle is over? What's your tank size and how much rock/sand you have? Any test numbers your can share?

Finally, you mentioned prime. If you're using it with your tap water it's a known fact that prime can cause false ammonia readings...

 

[bobman]

Finally, you mentioned prime. If you're using it with your tap water it's a known fact that prime can cause false ammonia readings...

It is not actually giving a false reading the ammonia is still there. Prime just makes the ammonia on toxic to fish but does not remove it so you will still pick it up on a test kit (most of them anyway). However it should not have ammonia if the tank is fully cycled with or without the use of tap water.

 

[Reefer4Ever]

It's not the tap water adding ammonia, what is the tank stocked with? How did you cycle your tank? How long has the tank been running? What is your nitrate and nitrite?

 

[Crixus]

How did you cycle the tank originally? You really need to get off the tap water and go with RO.

 

[cmcoker]

Use a different test kit, using api right?
Many reports of false low positive.
You say your test kit is fine, but how do you know? Have you already verified the results?
What are your nitrite and nitrate levels?
Does your city use chloramine to disinfect tap water? If so, The prime is gonna break down the bond but ammonia is left in the water. So I would investigate that as well, if your pouring ammonia in the tank with every topoff or water change, I could see getting low readings. If this is the case you are gonna run into problems with high nitrates as well.