Ammonia in tap water

[Suzanne Hayes]

Hi all

I'm working on setting up my nursery tank an have stumbled on the fact that my tap water has ammonia levels at about 2-4 ppm. I know thenaquarium stores sell additives to make water fish ready but are there any other suggestions for getting the ammonia out?  My nursery tank is a new independent tank that I bout as a kit complete with filtration and that just isnt helping

[Glenn]

Hi Suzanne. Water utility companies now days are treating more and more with not just chlorine but chloramines. And ammonia is of course present in nearly all sources of water in some deg.  Well, Chlorine and ammonia alone combines to make chloramine and WILL test as ammonia. It is becoming clear in your area that chloramines in the tap water are causing tests to read 2 to 4 ppm for ammonia.

I recommend that you off gas the chlorine and ammonia  for several hours and test again.

Here's a link to some of the info that leads to my conclusion that chloramine IS used in your area:  

http://castlerocknewspress.net/stories/Castle-Rock-switches-to-chlo...

I hope this helps.

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

I have been using and recommend a inline hose filter like this so you don't need to wait for off gassing

http://www.amazon.com/Water-Sentinel-WSRV-12-Premium-Two-Stage/dp/B...

[Suzanne Hayes]

I actually have been using an inline chlorine hose filter rated for 1200 gallons.  I've had it since November and by rough calculations I should be less than 1/3 of the way through its life (125 gallon system with roughly 10% top off per week)  I just ran a test off the filter and ammonia is showing 1ppm.  That would explain why i can never seem to get below .25ppm in my system I guess.  I have always attributed that to the old fish tank I was using, but I guess its my water.

Currently I have placed an airstone in my nursery system as well as some duck weed.   I will continue to monitor before moving my mama.  I guess I had figured that the filter on the tank would be taking care of the ammonia issue

[Steve R]

That is really high for tap water i would call my local water department and let them know. Its not uncommon for people to get nitrates in there water but its unusually to see ammonia.

[Glenn]

 

 This video says a lot better what I can in words.

Mixing chlorine and ammonia and sending us chloramines is becoming normal, and normal to the water treating people means keeping water purification properties in your water all the way through the old pipes to your faucet, and not much concern for Aquaponics use.

 I hope this helps.

[Steve R]

chloramines are a problem they can kill your bacteria in your system and it must be neutralized.