New owner - ammonia readings

[slug61]

Hi,
I have a 2.5g with filter for 1 betta fish that I purchased 8 days ago. Water temp about 77degrees. Bought the API master test kit and readings for ammonia after 2 - 50% water changes is still 0.5ppm ,
Nitrite is 0, and Nitrates are 0. pH is 7.4....our water is bad from tap.
I use TOPFIN betta conditioner.
Should I be worried....he looks very happy, curious, beautiful fins, no marks, no sluggishness etc.

Advice please????

[Bombalurina]

Some people just have to deal with ammonia in the tap water, sadly. I would suggest switching to Prime conditioner, which temporarily detoxifies ammonia, or trying to drop your pH naturally (not as good an option) so that the ammonia becomes ammonium.

[LittleBlueFishlets]

Can you test the ammonia level of the water straight out of your faucet? This will tell you if the ammonia is coming from your tap water, or whether the level is elevated in your tank.

Do you have a filter in the tank? If you don't have a filter, the water change recommendation is one 100% and one 50% per week. If you have a filter, it's two 50% per week. You can read the recommendations here: OFL's Water Change Recommendation thread.

The pH is fine. I would not try to change the pH.

[Hadoken Kitty]

Originally Posted by Bombalurina

Some people just have to deal with ammonia in the tap water, sadly. I would suggest switching to Prime conditioner, which temporarily detoxifies ammonia, or trying to drop your pH naturally (not as good an option) so that the ammonia becomes ammonium.

+1 to this!!! I deal with ammonia in my tap, so I had to switch to prime. Two drops per gallon, so it's easier on the pocket too. :p

[slug61]

I have a filter....the treated water that i change was tested and has no ammonia, so it must be from tank. I changed water again today (50%, which is 3 changes in 9 days), but haven't done a reading yet today.
I was thinking of getting "Prime".
Finn seems very happy and still has beautiful flowing fins and is active.

[Hadoken Kitty]

Yea, I have a filter in my house two. I actually have three. ammonia is a chemical change, not a metal that can be caught anyways.

Check his gills. If they're red he's getting burned. This is a pic of a girl I rescued from the pet store not too long ago. Her cup water hadn't been changed in so long that she was suffering some serious burns.