Suprise from my tap water

[rhonin]

Imagine my suprise when performing my weekly water tests and in all of my tanks I was suddenly getting a low-level positive for ammonia!

These (3) tanks are African rift tanks which normally measure:
pH around 8+
NH3 zip
NO2 zip
NO3 low (<3ppm)

Now I had my tanks all reading ammonia around .25ppm or less!

To make a long story short, it turns out my local water company had switched the water source from well (which is normal) to treated reservoir water including the addition of chloramines.
This is according to them short term while they do well maintenance. (where was the notice?)

Back to filtering the water through activate charcoal before adding to my tanks and adding a treatment to nullify the chloramines...

So if you see a sudden change in your water tests.... it just may be your local water company, not you or your fish.

:22:

[Jaster]

samething happened to me. All of a sudden my ph went from 7 to 8 and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why. Until I tested my tap water again.
Found out later the water company added some stuff to make the water better for humans from the treatment plant... added some chemicals bla bla... So now the first thing I do if I get a couple off tests is go back to the tap water.

[Lady Hobbs]

Are you now using dechlorinator in your water? Could be that caused your ammonia spike due to the switching of water sources.

[Northernguy]

Every time there is a weather change coming the water treatment plants have to treat accordingly!
Tap water should always be tested this time of year.
Its not like they put antifreeze in the water but they do add more chemicals before winter and change things in the Spring and summer.

[rhonin]

Are you now using dechlorinator in your water? Could be that caused your ammonia spike due to the switching of water sources.

Don't use as a normal part of the process.
I have a filter media that removes chlorine and metals before I add to the tanks. Unfortunately chloramines pass right through this with little decrease.

thx!!

[rhonin]

Every time there is a weather change coming the water treatment plants have to treat accordingly!
Tap water should always be tested this time of year.
Its not like they put antifreeze in the water but they do add more chemicals before winter and change things in the Spring and summer.

I live in West Los Angeles. What seasons?
Summer 60 - 80
Winter 50 - 70
Rain - maybe, slim, not likely, I wish....

Testing the tap water (had to get a seperate chloramine test kit) before use now. Having to significantly reduce the flow to allow time in the charcoal media.

Just one more thing to keep an eye on to ensure my little buddies good health. They are worth it! thumbs2:

Hopefully they switch back to well soon....

Thx!!

[Lab_Rat]

Prime will take care of chloramines, my water is loaded with them.

[rhonin]

Prime will take care of chloramines, my water is loaded with them.

My biggest and an area I have had an issue with in the past is that I have a live environemnt - plants / rocks / etc....

What effect would Prime have on this?

Thx!!

[Lab_Rat]

Not in any negative way. I use Prime in my planted and unplanted tanks.

[rich311k]

I have never had any issue using Prime in my tanks.

[rhonin]

Not in any negative way. I use Prime in my planted and unplanted tanks.

I'll give this a shot in one of my tanks (30 gal glass - German Peacocks) and see how it does.

Appreciate the comments..

Thx!!

[rhonin]

Well, I picked up some Prime and added a half dose to my nursery tank with a partial water change.
Chose it over the Peacock tank as I do small frequent water changes in the nursery tank...
Yep - tap water still contained chloramines...
Crossed my fingers.....

12 hours later... fish look good.

Question: with Prime will my tests show a false positive or will it remove it so it no longer reads?

Thx!!

[jcarr71]

There is nothing to cross your fingers over. Prime or anything like it will never ever hurt a fish or a plant. It just removes chlorine and chloramines. As for your question, it removes it. You'll have no reading if you properly dose the tank. Use enough for the entire body of water too, not just for the water you change. The chloramines will spread out and you need to have enough to span the volume of the tank.