ammonia in my R/O water

[gronlaura]

I am using R/O water for my 75 gallon FW tank. have not been able to get my ammonia below .25 ppm. today I ordered a SpectraPure RO/DI unit for myself. While speaking with Scott, the technician at Spectra Pure, I told him my problem with the ammonia. he suggested I test my RO water. I was shocked to discover it t has .25 ppm ammonia! I can't wait to get my unit - hopefully early next week so I can have ammonia free water.

[Cliff]

Did you test the RO water with the ammonia in it for a TDS count? Your membrain might be getting clogged and is now letting stuff get through

Are you planning to mix the RO water with your tap water, or use nothing but RO water with replacement minerals/additives ?

[alisiddiqi]

I know this is kinda off topic, but dude, I live in Lombard!

[gronlaura]

I apologize - forgot to mention I buy my RO water from my LFS. I use no tap water at all, only the purchased water.

[Cliff]

If there is ammonia in the RO water, you LFS has some issues.

Good call getting your own unit. That brand of RO unit is really good.

Just don't use pure RO water in your tank without mixing it with tap water or replacing the required minerals to ensure a stable pH.

[Lady10Godiva]

Since I have no experience with ro water and am assuming it should have 0 ammoinia, Iwould go to the store you bought all your water from and inform them that their water is bad. I am the kind of person that would ask for at least a partial refund too. It isnt as important for you since you are still cycling but if you had a saltwater tank it would have been bad.

Good luck once you get your own unit.

[gronlaura]

I do mix in seachem replenish with the RO water. and I think I will go to my LFS and talk to them about their water. I was becoming very frustrated with not being able to get a 0 ppm ammonia reading.

question, should not the BB have reduced the ammonia to 0?

[Cliff]

It should, given a few hours or so. I once lived in a city with between 0.5 and 0.25ppm of ammonia in the tap water. When I did my weekly 50% water changes, the ammonia level in the tank would be around 0.25ppm, but that would be gone in around 4 to 6 hours at the longest.

[Greentoads41]

What test kit are you using? I use the API liquid test kit, and I used to think I had .25 ammonia too, because the color showing up was hard to read. It was actually 0. So maybe the color is just hard to read. Good luck!.

[gronlaura]

I use the API master test kit. the color is very very pale green, showing as less than .25 ppm on the color chart, but definitely not showing as yellow for 0 ppm. I think it's funny that the test for my purchased RO water is exactly the same color.