why is my ammonia getting higher?

[ReefRelated]

Any water can easily have amonia if the water has been treated with chloromines. If you drink tap water in my city you will be drinking amonia. Some companies like Spectrapure actually make DI cartridges called AR (amonia removal). It sounds bad but anyone with chloromine knows the first warning your city gives you when or if they switch to chloromines is "chloromines are not safe for fish" Good filtration can remove these. Some of these bottled water companies may not use great filtration and don't completely remove the chloromines.

Chloromine = Amonia+Chlorine

 

[Evergreen]

Still I am curious to know what water company is bottling city tap water and selling it?

 

[ReefRelated]

They sell filtered city water right? If the city use chloromines and the company that filters it only uses sediment, carbon, and RO then they probably won't remove all chloromines. That would mean it could be possible amonia could be left in the water.

 

[lllosingit]

Can Amquel give a false reading for ammonia?

In my fresh water days I was always told that Amquel would screw up the test readings, How much I don't know?
Are you sure you didn't add Meds to the tank?
It sounds like your going thru a new cycle or you have something dead in the tank.
The shell from the shrimp molt would not be enough to cause any problems.

 

[CDP13075]

The distilled water that testing high for ammonia was the Wal-Mart brand. The other kind I usually gets test O for ammonia.


I'm happy today. The nitrites and nitrates are 0 and ammonia is less than 50...yeah it's going back down!!!
Still didn't find anything dead but my sand sifter star is looking rough. I'll be shocked if he dies b/c he was in the LR when I got it and survived the cycle. I'll keep an eye on him for the next several days.

 

[thedude]

Well, it sounds like your tank went through a cycle after the ammonia was added from the distilled water. Pretty surprising that ammonia came from distilled water. There must have been some contamination to the water after the distillation process. I don't think ammonia can pass along through the distillation.

I believe the Amquel products bind something to the ammonia molecule that makes it less harmful to critters. Your tank's bacteria can still digest it and cycle it out.

Just sit tight and wait out the cycle. And I wouldn't use that type of water again.

 

[CDP13075]

I've been using distilled water for a couple of months with no problems. I am still going to use it but I'll test every jug first. I don't want this to happen again. I'm hoping nothing dies from the high levels for 2 days. So far everything looks good except for the star.

This website has been alot of help.

Thanks a bunch

 

[jamison74]

i just tested the walmart ro/di water.....yep amonia! off the charts! i dont use it just had a bottle in the fridge for drinking came across this thread and was curious, so yet again my fish are pooping in better water than i am drinking!