ammonia in tap water

A nitrate level of 5ppm is nothing. I dose nitrates to KEEP 5ppm for my
plants. Add several plants and you won't have a problem. IMO don't
worry about nitrates until they exceed 25ppm..... (IMO)

The ammonia? I've not had much experience with. I've had a slight touch
of ammonia once, but as far as I know there were no side effects.
Supposedly ammonia IS one of the more deadly parameters though.

Peat granules worked pretty well for my well water but if you use a
mixture of distilled water it'll bring hardness and pH levels down in a
hurry. I dunno if this will help, but my well water goes through a
cylce of nitrates and phosphates during the year. I have no idea what
causes it. Maybe it is fertilizers in the ground water, I dunno.

My Aquaria info & pics at:
http://www.geocities.com/spiral_72/Spirals_page.html

"spiral_72" writes:


Peat granules worked pretty well for my well water but if you use a
mixture of distilled water it'll bring hardness and pH levels down in a
hurry. I dunno if this will help, but my well water goes through a
cylce of nitrates and phosphates during the year. I have no idea what
causes it. Maybe it is fertilizers in the ground water, I dunno.


Actually I was thinking of mixing my water half and half with
distilled or RO water. I think that will get the hardness where I want
it. (I can't find a GH test) And then adding some seachem acid buffer
to get the Alkalinity and pH down.

I was concerned with the ammonia but as others have pointed out once I
get rid of the ammonia in the aquarium. The partial water changes will
only add a very small amount of ammonia.