More problems with source water!

[bardies]

Latest issue - doing a water change in the sick tank - the filter finally seemed to kick in - brought ammonia (free) down to zero night before last. Didnt do a change yesterday. Decided to do a change just for principal. Found my ammonia (free and bound) way up. In the middle of a 11pm water change when I measured the ammonia of my untreated tap water - over 1. Treated - just better than my tank water (barely) - still measuring .6 free ammonia. Honestly - I am looking at my (untreated for the last 4 months) pool water again.
I think I am measuring the chloramines - which were supposed to be taken out of 'free' status by the water treatment (which I went at probably over 4 times recommended dose).
Could there be any way this stuff is not killing my fish even though the 'free' ammonia test (nO3) is picking them up?
Is the answer to switch to a different water conditioner?

I found out its not just me. A lady with a pond has drilled a well to fill it. She says she cant run more than 20 minutes of city water into it without affecting her fish (much bigger pond).

[Auntiesue]

What binder are you using and what test kit?

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by bardies Latest issue - doing a water change in the sick tank - the filter finally seemed to kick in - brought ammonia (free) down to zero night before last. Didnt do a change yesterday. Decided to do a change just for principal. Found my ammonia (free and bound) way up. In the middle of a 11pm water change when I measured the ammonia of my untreated tap water - over 1. Treated - just better than my tank water (barely) - still measuring .6 free ammonia. Honestly - I am looking at my (untreated for the last 4 months) pool water again. I think I am measuring the chloramines - which were supposed to be taken out of 'free' status by the water treatment (which I went at probably over 4 times recommended dose). Could there be any way this stuff is not killing my fish even though the 'free' ammonia test (nO3) is picking them up? Is the answer to switch to a different water conditioner? I found out its not just me. A lady with a pond has drilled a well to fill it. She says she cant run more than 20 minutes of city water into it without affecting her fish (much bigger pond).

What are you using to treat your water for chloramines?

[bekko]

Quote: 'free' ammonia test (nO3)

NO3 is nitrate, not ammonia. A few ppm nitrate is OK.

-steveh

[bardies]

Thanks Bekko,
I probably shouldnt post so late without having my test kits in front of me to get the chem compositions right.
Anyway, free ammonia down to zero this morning. Seems as though I've been testing after a water change...just to get a look at my new 'clean' water value. Perhaps my filter has been working for longer than I think.
Water conditioner is Water Prep by Laguna...not my regular brand, but cant seem to find that here. The fee ammonia test kit I've been using is fasTest by Aquarium Systems. I have little doubt that it is working. It is designed primarily for use in saltwater, but I have been told that it will work in fresh and seems to do so.

[KoiCop]

Kim . . .

I've seen the title of this thread but I haven't seen the 'more problems' with your source water mentioned in it? Would you please clarify?

In your last 'source water problems' thread you were asked:

1. To fill a bucket with tap water, aerate it overnight with an air stone and then test it. If so, what were the results?

2. To send off a sample of the water for testing? If so, what were the results.

Not sure we're ever going to make progress on your water quality issues if we don't establish some baseline measurements to work with as a first priority.