2007-03-21 15:01:38 · 8 answers · asked by Andii 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
First off be sure it is from the tap water. If you are not using a quality water ammonia test kit, your test strips could be outdated.
Secondly, if the reading are high over 7ppm (That is actually listed as safe under regulations) if it is over that, call your water company. There could be a problem they are unaware of. You can also get a FREE (they must give you a free report) report from them that states what the water on the last test tested at. This is good to have on hand every year for you as a fish keeper.
until then, any water filter will do, even the smaller pitcher kind. Since you will be doing water changes to remove the ammonia, you don't want to keep adding it back in.
AmQuil also sells an ammonia lock you can use to help control the ammonia for now.
Good luck.
2007-03-22 04:08:55 · answer #1 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you have ammonia in your tap water (regardless of how high it is), definitely call the water company. That is bad.
2007-03-21 23:13:01 · answer #2 · answered by rdd1952 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Surface water changes and helping build up beneficial bacteria.
There is bacteria that actually feed off the ammonia in your tank. When there isn't enough of them built up, then the ammonia runs amuck in your tank.
Until you can get to your local petstore, do a surface water change of about 1/4th. All the beneficial bacteria grow on the rocks in your tank, decorations, plants, and even the sides of your tank. Changing the whole tank will do nothing more than kill all that good bacteria and making your tank start all over.
Tomorrow, go to your local pet store and buy a bottle of beneficial bacteria (any worker in the fish section should know what you are talking about) and follow the directions on the bottle.
Until you get your ammonia in order, do not add anymore fish to your tank.
2007-03-21 23:07:53 · answer #3 · answered by I<3IGs 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
First, you should call the water company, ask for a copy of the water quality report ( they are required to send you one) and complain.
The most likely source is from agricultural run off or chlorimines added to the water. Most water filters will not effectively remove ammonia, only those that contain zeolite will take care of it. You can try allowing it to set out over night and test it again to see if the ammonia will degas from the water ( it depends on the source of the contamination). That would be the simplest means of removing it. Filters that contain Zeolite are available from places like Walmart, but they require replacement fairly often. A RO unt (reverse osmosis) will remove it, but that removes a lot of stuff you want for your tank as well and is expensive.
Other than that you would need to find a new source of water.
MM
2007-03-21 23:32:19 · answer #4 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
how high is it? jeez thats kinda scary, im fortunate enough not to have it. but chloramine is added in water plants to treat ammonia. but chloramine is fatal for fish. so if you are worried about it for the fish, put an ammonia reducer in it. if youre worried about yourself...well humans can handle a pretty high amount. water clarifers also can do the trick. you might want to boil the water, let it cool and then use it.
2007-03-21 22:11:47 · answer #5 · answered by Twilite 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
get a water test kit. Test the water then treat it with the de-chlor.
2007-03-22 02:03:05 · answer #6 · answered by rsmry_phllps 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water filter system.
2007-03-21 22:06:30 · answer #7 · answered by DP 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call water company
2007-03-21 22:09:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋