[minorhero]

Hi to All. Trying to research my options. I’ve searched prior postings to avoid wasting anyone’s time but haven’t seen much on how these work. I’d like to use my tap water for the PH and other obvious reasons but I’m getting 2.0 ppm Amonia with my api master test kit ( I can’t believe I used to drink this stuff … ewwww!!!) obviously I’ll start saving my nickels for a RO system. Questions In the meanwhile …does the use of detoxifying water conditioners ( such as Prime or API aqua essentials)

1) still allow the plants to use the “detoxified” amonia and nitrates
2) stall the cycling process
3) does the detox only last temporarily
4) skew test results ? False positives (aqua essentials says will read accurate with their test kit

Any help appreciated 😎

Is your tap water using chloramine (as opposed to chlorine)? You can check with your local water treatment facility to find out. Typically this information can be found on a website.

Anyway the reason I ask is that chloramine when you use a dechlorinator (like prime, but any of them really) will then show up as ammonia when using a test kit. This does not mean you actually have active ammonia in your water however.

You certainly can use an RODI system, but golly, it does make things a lot harder on yourself. Chances are pretty good you don't actually have 2ppm of ammonia in your water. You would smell it if it were that high.

 

[minorhero]

Thanks so much for your reply. I really debated taking this tank and the hundreds of dollars in chemicals and dropping them at the local high school as a donation! LOL 😂 So I did research with my city water and the do indeed use chloramine. So that being said, does that mean I will not be able to accurately test the amonia levels ? If that is the case, what do you recommend?

After you do a water change your tank will show ammonia. BUT it should go away after a day or 2 once your tank is cycled. I am not sure where you are at in the setting up process.

When you are new to keeping tanks you might run a full range of tests after every water change etc but once you get a bit more experience you will only occasionally test the water because you will be familiar with the results and your fish's behavior etc.