*I haven’t started setting up my tank yet, to preface*
I tested my tap water with the API Masters Kit and I am genuinely baffled by the results. I was curious what our tap water would test for each parameter before I set up and begin a fishless cycle for my tank, but the nitrate level is confusing and scaring me!
This was from the tap water in the bathroom in my bedroom (as my tank will be up here, so for ease of filling it when I’m ready to I’ll mostly fill from here). The rest of the parameters were:
pH – 7.6
High range pH – 7.4
Ammonia – 0.25
Nitrite – 0 ppm
Nitrate – 40 ppm, or at least it looks like 40 to me from the photo attached
In my room, the water supply is generally from the water tank in the eaves (as it’s a converted loft), but think it draws from the mains in the rest of the house – sorry I don’t know much more or more specific than that, lol
I visited an aquarium shop today to buy some plants and others bits and told them that my tap water at home for nitrate is 40ppm and they were baffled just as I am.
I got home not so long ago and thought to test the filter tap in the kitchen downstairs, as well as the ‘normal’ tap from the kitchen. Both have tested the same for nitrate as my bathroom tap, 40ppm. Also for both, ammonia was again 0.25ppm.
My worry now mainly lies with future water changes once I finish the fishless cycle/already have fish in the tank. I am completely lost, confused and worried on what to do. If it wasn’t already obvious, I’m brand new to this hobby and have no idea how to go about this.
The salesperson in the aquarium shop today mentioned RO water but I was so overwhelmed with the million questions I had written down prior to going and asked them, that I don’t think I retained anything they mentioned about the RO water/its suitability.
Of course, these tests/results are from testing just straight from the tap and not after conditioning. Just. So. Confused.
Posted by 111stargrl
4 Comments
RO water and tap water arent something u can just fill up a tank with and be done tap water has chlorine (likely the reason for the 0.25 ammonia reading) and RO water needs to be reminerlized to be suitable so either way u will have to treat the water. 40 nitrate is pretty insane to be 100% its ur tap water and not something going on with ur test kit i would bring a sample of ur tap water to the store and have them test it for u to double check most stores will do this for free
The EPA in the US considers only up to 10 ppm of nitrates safe for human consumption. I personally would definitely get that tested officially and report it.
My lightly stocked heavily planted 60 gallon dreams of nitrates like that from tap water.
My well is affected by some river pollution from a really shitty factory that used to be nearby.. apparently they were shut down for pollution and on their way to closing the facility there were more incidents of pollution that were suspected to be intentional that the company tried to blame on being rushed.. I had no idea I was drinking 70ppm nitrate water for a couple years until after I set up my aquarium and had issues with cycling. In the end I had to install an RO filter and buy products to remineralize.