Ammonia Spike
- Thread starter Romona
- Start date
Glad it's going down, It might just be taking a bit for your bacteria to convert the ammonia from tap. And yes .5 makes more sense, I was wondering if you mistyped, but you seemed certain on the 5.0 hah. I would still recommend looking into an RO filter, 1.0 from tap is definitely not great
If your water supplier uses chloramine to disinfect the drinking water, a slight reading for ammonia is quite normal. Chloramine is a compound usually composed of or 4 parts chlorine, to 1 part ammonia.
The most important thing to remember is not to toss the bio filter material.
If the pads are gunked up, it is best to just swish them around, or squeeze them out in water change water until less gunky.
I only throw away that type material when it is in tatters, and then keep one running when changing out an old one, until it is fully seasoned.
If this goes against your grain, get another HOBack filter and put only small pieces of lava rock in it, in a mess bag that will be a constant no change biofiltration unit.
Just occasionally shake it out in water change water, and quickly return it to the filter.
The most important thing to remember is not to toss the bio filter material.
If the pads are gunked up, it is best to just swish them around, or squeeze them out in water change water until less gunky.
I only throw away that type material when it is in tatters, and then keep one running when changing out an old one, until it is fully seasoned.
If this goes against your grain, get another HOBack filter and put only small pieces of lava rock in it, in a mess bag that will be a constant no change biofiltration unit.
Just occasionally shake it out in water change water, and quickly return it to the filter.
If your water supplier uses chloramine to disinfect the drinking water, a slight reading for ammonia is quite normal. Chloramine is a compound usually composed of or 4 parts chlorine, to 1 part ammonia.
The most important thing to remember is not to toss the bio filter material.
If the pads are gunked up, it is best to just swish them around, or squeeze them out in water change water until less gunky.
I only throw away that type material when it is in tatters, and then keep one running when changing out an old one, until it is fully seasoned.
If this goes against your grain, get another HOBack filter and put only small pieces of lava rock in it, in a mess bag that will be a constant no change biofiltration unit.
Just occasionally shake it out in water change water, and quickly return it to the filter.
The most important thing to remember is not to toss the bio filter material.
If the pads are gunked up, it is best to just swish them around, or squeeze them out in water change water until less gunky.
I only throw away that type material when it is in tatters, and then keep one running when changing out an old one, until it is fully seasoned.
If this goes against your grain, get another HOBack filter and put only small pieces of lava rock in it, in a mess bag that will be a constant no change biofiltration unit.
Just occasionally shake it out in water change water, and quickly return it to the filter.
Above should read "mesh" bag, like the one below with ceramic rings(these can be used instead of lava rock) as can almost any porous material. 
By the way, what city are you in?
I might be able to check your cities water quality report for water composition, and method of treatment.
By the way, what city are you in?
I might be able to check your cities water quality report for water composition, and method of treatment.
Man,
that is good that it is only .5 cause i honestly was thinking how are all of your fish not dead?
but .5 is still higher than it should be...
that is good that it is only .5 cause i honestly was thinking how are all of your fish not dead?
but .5 is still higher than it should be...
