My well water has about 1 ppm ammonia in it. If I fill a 50 gal drum and aerate it and let it sit for a few days do you think the ammonia would dissipate? Need to do a water change pretty soon..All other parameters are within spec.

Thanks
Sas

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That would be what I did to see if it helped. May require a longer period, but you won't know until you try.

If your well water is contaminated with ammonia, be careful drinking it! Aeriate it for a few hours and then make a test. If your ammonia is in gas form your test should be negative. If your ammonia is in ion form (NH4+), aeriating won't help it. Ammonia in well water is usually the result of livestock or fertilizer conatamination.

I will get a 5 gallon bucket and aerate it for awhile and post the results.

Thanks guys

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dont worry about drinking it when its only 1ppm. its not going to harm you. plants in the aquarium would help to get rid of any left over ammonia after a water change. Do small water changes more frequently to help this out, unless you have higher amounts of ammonia in the tank before you change it. the biofilter in the tank will also help remove the ammonia, one of the reasons it exists!

The ammonia in the tank is 0 according to my test kit. It cycled for 3 weeks and all the parameters are within spec for a healthy tank. It is a 75 gal and I am using a good sized wet dry system with it. It used to be a reef aquarium.
I am just scared doing water changes with water that has a 1ppm ammonia would at minimum stress the fish out.
My test confirmed that aerating the well water has no effect on the ammonia level. I filled a five gallon bucket and used a power head with a air supply to aerate it for several hours. Im getting tired of buying my water from the water mill in front of HEB,,LOL..I have 7 cichlids, two rubber lip plecos, two snails and two live plants..Everybody is happy for the moment.

The well water also has a percentage of sulfur in it,,or atleast you can smell it. Its not real strong but noticeable. Anyone have this problem?

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the ammonia will not be an issue if you do 25% water changes.. that'll give you a .25ppm in your tank. that's a fairly safe level for your fish. i wouldnt think that sulfur would do much to your tank inhabitants if its not in high levels. keep it aerated really well to make sure the oxygen levels dont get too low.

Aeration is not a problem...

Thanks for the help Guys..I do appreciate your input!

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I would use your well water. Just treat with seachem Primes as your conditioner.