Ammonia is .50-1.0 out of the tap

[BigPoppa]

I tested my water right out of the tap and its .50 id say maybe even 1.0ppm so how do I keep amm down with water changes when its in the tap water?

[pjoo1120]

That should be from the chlorine. A dechlorinator will take care of it. Even afterwards you might see it in your tests but it will be a harmless in the form of ammonium.

[genocidex]

first thing to consider is to use prime. it will detoxify the ammonia and break the chloramine bonds. i think your local water is using chloramine instead of chlorine because of the ammonia. you should be fine with that.

how i under stand it, it converts the ammonia into less toxic ammonium (sp?). this is still used by the bb and is less harmful to the fish. a few hours should clean the ammonium.

[pjaldave]

when you have a cycled filter, 0.5ppm of ammonia will be processed in no time. Although using prime is also a better idea to break up the chloramines in your water source.

[Lady Hobbs]

I agree with the Prime. And I would double dose it. Ammonia found to be in tap water is often not the chlorine but the chloramines. And it's harder to break down the chloramines than the chlorine.

[Cermet]

By the way, Seachem sells a test kit that tells apart ammonia and fixed ammonia. Could help (if it is all 'fixed ammonia' then most likely just chloramines.)

[BigPoppa]

Im starting a journel on this adventure so we will see haow it goes.