WEST LOTHIAN WATER

[JUKEBOXTANGO]

hi everyone
i was wondering if you could help me 
i bought a 60l biorb and decide to go down the fishless cycle route
i used waterlifes biomature and bacterlife as instructed on another forum
but my problem seems to be the ammonia level
i cant seem to get it under 0.25 
i use api testing equipment
the worrying thing for me is the water out of the tap also has 0.25 ammonia
i was wondering
if any of the members coud tell me how they get around this
i live in murieston
( recently added 3 male guppies to my biorb )
thanks in advance
stuart

[quatermass]

Hi Stuart,

I'm Stuart Halliday in WL too - Deans. 

Our water is very soft - KH 1, GH 1  with a pH of 6.8.

So any nitrifying bacteria you use will really struggle to grow in it.

You need to get the water parameters more like KH ~6, GH ~4 with a pH above 7.


Also your bacteria products may not contain the right species of bacteria.

Regarding existing ammonia, there are numerous ammonia removing liquid products on the market. Prime and Amquel Plus are the two best.

But note, they (apart from Amquel Plus) don't actually remove it, only make it non-toxic for 24 hours.

There are of course Zeolite stones available too. most shops sell this.

My tap water doesn't contain ammonia. So I think you'll need to phone your local water board up and complain. It could be faulty.

You can phone me if necessary - 01506 411162
 

Biomature contains no bacteria, but it does contain elements that may have increased the KH/GH/pH of your tank. Can you measure these 3 parameters in your tank and lets me know?

[JUKEBOXTANGO]

hi stuart thanks for your prompt reply
i have phoned my local water authourity and i am awaiting there reply
here are my cycling test results

[quatermass]

Odd how your pH was swinging around all over the place. You checked your KH level?

Adding bacteria with ammonia over 4ppm or with a pH less than 7 will just kill or serious stun the bacteria.

But I see the last few days the pH has stabilised.

But I doubt you've yet got enough bacteria in the filter to achieve a cycled state.

Test the biomature and bacterlife to see if it contains ammonia. Some do.

Ask  the water board for a comprehensive water report which is your right via email. I do. It's free. It'll give you a estimate of what your water parameters should be.

[JUKEBOXTANGO]

hi stuart
i got word back from the water board
they say my water comes form a plant that uses chloramination
i have attatched the pdfs
double dutch to me
i'm still no further forward

[quatermass]

There you go - Chloramine.

You are dosing your tap water with the water conditioner (WC) before adding it to the tank right?
We all have to do that. 

If not, get a WC that handles Chloramine and also states it removes ammonia (some don't). Read the link above if you don't know what this chemical is. The WC lists some popular brands.

Your PDF water chart plainly says - Ammonium levels are on average 0.118mg/L Nothing to worry about.
Together with nitrate of 1.4mg/l and nitrite of 0.2mg/l
So your nitrite may get a little high sometimes. But liveable. Prime or AmQuel Plus will render it harmless.  Just use some WC when you do a water change.

Remember your Ammonia test kit is actually testing 'Total Ammonia'. That is Ammonia and Ammonium added together. So this is what its measuring -  the natural ammonium from the water and the added ammonia in the Chloramine.


This link goes to a UK shop that sells the best WC on the planet. 
http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1634

125ml will treat 900L.

[Vlad]

All of these posts are old!!!!

[quatermass]

All of these posts are old!!!!

Your point being? 

[blackrose]

Thanks for the nice info,then it could still believe that the water can react in that case.



_________________
Refrigerator Filters

[quatermass]

Here is a full water report I obtained from my local West Lothian Water board a few years ago.

Anyone can ask for this as it's free and a legal requirement for the company to give it to their customers.

http://mytriops.com/files/Balmore_F_2005.pdf

It's much more detailed that their usual summary they give out. The trick is to ask for the 'Full report'.

[angels45]

I read that it was there are health concerns regarding the leakage of dangerous biological or chemical contaminating agents into local water supplies when people are advised by public health officials not to drink the water, and stick to bottled water instead.


_________________
Refrigerator Water Filter

[quatermass]

I read that it was there are health concerns regarding the leakage of dangerous biological or chemical contaminating agents into local water supplies when people are advised by public health officials not to drink the water, and stick to bottled water instead.

Sorry? I think I missed your point.

All water boards do this.
It helps keep us alive!