Anyone else getting ammonia readings in their tap water?

[Bal]

I have a 136 gallon tank that just completed a cycle, so after doing a big water change, I tested the water and got a reading of 0.25. I then tested the tap water, and sure enough- 0.25. I had tested it last week from the tap and it was 0. I dont quite know what to do now about adding the fish to the tank (I'm new at this). I'm holding off taking nitrite and nitrate readings from the new tank so that the water has a chance to circulate through the filters a while longer, but I did test the tap water and nitrites are 0 there.

B

[dpatte]

Chloramine in the tapwater is a mixture of chlorine and ammonia. When you remove the chlorine (using a water conditioner) it releases a small amount of ammonia into the water - which , in a cycled tank, should be consumed quite quickly.

0.25 PPM of ammonia after removing the chlorine makes sense.

[Bal]

Thanks so much for your prompt response. It kind of threw me off, seeing a reading after doing the water change. I did a 50% change on a 46 gallon two days ago and got no ammonia reading afterward, so I was very surprised to get one with my big tank (not to mention disappointed)

so, would it be safe to add my fish today? I'll take more tests later to see if things settled down.

B

[dpatte]

if it cycled past having ammonia and nitrite, and you did a water change, then let the small amount of ammonia be reconverted (wait till its 0) then add the fish.

[artw]

just for fun I've done massive waterchanges and never detected ammonia.
even in uncycled tanks (40-75gal) I have never been able to detect ammonia post dechlorination.

[dpatte]

maybe you need a new test kit?

[artw]

Oh I've detected ammonia in other tanks
not specifically the ones I am referring to now

[Bal]

thanks for the reponse... I feel relieved now that you've explained what happened.

Thanks!
B