Tap Water.....how Bad Is It?

[stevenbob0]

Tap watter test don with API test kit ( I estimated some of the results because they were in between two colors)
PH=7.4
Ammonia=8
Nitrite=0
Nitrate=0

To do the fishless cycle i read that i need to up the ammonia between 5-6ppm but sense my water is already above that do I have to add any ammonia or just wait until it drops in my fish tank to add more. Also are these results going to hurt my fish during watter changes because of the high ammonia?

 

[Leitch]

There is no way that your tap water is ammonia 8. eek D:
Re-test.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Yeah if your tap water has ammonia you have got some serious problems.

 

[Polenth]

That level of ammonia is pretty extreme. I accidently dosed a tank at that level. Putting my hand in it made my skin itch and my eyes watered from the evaporation. You should be able to smell the ammonia in the air when you run your water. Drinking it and washing in it would be nasty. Even ammonia eating bacteria can struggle at higher concentrations (my tank didn't start cycling until the concentration was lowered).

Perhaps the water comes from a storage tank and something is rotting in it? I can't think why else it would be that high. A little ammonia in tapwater is pretty common, but you have a lot of ammonia.

 

[Mikaila31]

Yeah I would have it retested. I had a tank that was fishless cycling, I bumped the ammonia up to 8ppm and the cycle completely stalled.

 

[stevenbob0]

I have tested the water 4 time to day each time it has been 8. I have been careful not to let the water touch anything besides the test tube. Me and my family are drinking the watter bathing in the watter and cant smell or feel anything different.Could there be something wrong with the test kit i purchased?

 

[xxBarneyxx]

There could be. Take a sample to the LFS and ask them to test it. If it does have 8ppm ammonia then there is something very wrong with your water source (and is probably not considered safe for human consumption).

 

[stevenbob0]

What is the LFS?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi stevenbob0

LFS stands for Local Fish Store.

And, yes, there could be something wrong with your test kit. Perhaps it was on the store shelf too long, or it could have been stored in less than ideal conditions. If you take a sample of your water there they will test it for you. Most stores will do this for free if you are a regular customer, but some will charge a minimal amount for the service. Either way, you should do it. If you deal with an independent lfs you will get more assistance than at a chain store.

Wherever you go to get your water checked, please ask them to give you the test results in numbers rather than just saying it's OK or it's not. If their reading is very far off from yours, it would be a good idea to buy a new test kit from a different store than you bought the first one.

 

[stevenbob0]

How do i bring water to them. like what container should i put it in and how much water will they need?

 

[Luketendo]

How do i bring water to them. like what container should i put it in and how much water will they need?

Test Tubes, container, whatever you want.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi stevenbob0

How do i bring water to them. like what container should i put it in and how much water will they need?

A clean glass jar is good. I doubt you will need to bring more than a half cup or so.

 

[darrel69]

aren't you suppose to air-rate it for about 12hr's before testing it ???

 

[ibbledibble]

aren't you suppose to air-rate it for about 12hr's before testing it ???

all that will do is allow chlorine to dissipate. using a chlorine remover would do the same thing.

but one point that raises is, have you been using a chlorine remover before testing the tap water? because if your tap water contains chloramine it will get broken down by the chlorine remover and produce ammonia (as i understand for another post i saw on here.) so test the ammonia level on treated AND untreated tap water to check.

 

[stevenbob0]

Are water is from a well and therefor it dos not have any chlorine.