water samples

[troysdiiscus]

Here is my situation the test bottle on left is from a bottle of purified water (no ammonia) bottle in middle is from aged container (looks like .25 or less) bottle on right from my tap, city water(looks like .50 or so) aged barrel is half RO and tap. wanted to try and do 1 to 3 ratio RO to tap. Any suggestions on what to do.
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[Wes]

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[troysdiiscus]

ah....gotcha...thanks for the info

[100fuegos]

It may be chloramines no ammonia. If it is you have to remove it from the water.

[troysdiiscus]

I called water plant and they do use chloramine, I am using prime to help break up the ammonia and chlorine that are bonded to each other. I am thinking that it should be enough and the ammonia is at that point not toxic enough and should be broken down by bio filter. Am I getting the reading because of this and am I right in my thinking? thanks

[Poco]

Are you adding prime to the aging barrel?

[troysdiiscus]

yes when I add the RO and tap water. the middle sample is from aging barrel. Its a 30 gallon barrel with a pump and heater. Using about a cap and half full.

[DiscusLoverJeff]

You could be adding way too much Prime. I think it is a capful for 50 gallons. If you have treated water already in the barrel and add more water and all that Prime, you could be causing some issues there.

Remember, RO water does not need Prime. So depending on your mix, it could be overkill.

[Brokenrack]

Are you using a seachem test kit? If not you may be seeing the bound ammonia and the free ammonia. Only the free ammonia is toxic. Put the prime in a few minutes before you change water and your filter will use the ammonia before it's unbound and harmful.
Scott

[troysdiiscus]

thanks, no I am using API and I am thinking the detection level isnt picking up because of the chloramine. So put the prime in the tank and not the barrel? Is seachem a better test and truer test than what I am using?

[Brokenrack]

The Seachem test will show only free ammonia. I put mine in the aging barrel, drain the tank(s) then refill. You only want to put it in the aging barrel if your going to use the whole amount or else you could get algae or bacteria growing in it. Many people put the prime right in the tank as they fill, but then you'll Ned to dose for the whole tank volume.

[troysdiiscus]

ok so sounds like probably the API is giving me a false positive. Yeah I put in the aging barrel 10 mins before I empty it out. Sounds like I need to get seachem test.