also wait 5-10 min to check the reading on API test, prime will neutralize the ammonia so it is safe but that only lasts for 24 hrs or so until it quits binding up the ammonia. in the mean time you will get a high reading on the tests but it wont be as bad as it looks because you are testing the safe bound up ammonia also. continue with prime and wated changes and cut back in the mean time on the feedings and it will sort out soon.
Mini cycle started ?
- Thread starter Bobbys
- Start date
Bobbys;4167184; said:
Prime converts ammonia (NH3) into Ammonium (NH4+) by attaching Hydrogen atoms to the existing ammonia molecule.
Aquarium grade test kits, including your API kit, reads ammonia and ammonium as the exact same thing.
If you have 2 ppm of ammonia and you add Prime, you will then have 2ppm of ammonium. The API test kit will read the 2ppm of ammonia as 2ppm, it will also read the 2 ppm of ammonium as 2 ppm.
If you have 2 ppm of ammonia and you only add alittle bit of Prime and you end up with 1 ppm of ammonia and 1 ppm of ammonium, the test kit will still read 2 ppm.
At typical aquarium conditions, the natrual state of ammnoia/ammonium is ammonia. Therefore the effects of Prime converting ammonia to ammonium will wear off after about 24 hours. Thus if you are relying on Prime to 'detoxify' ammonia, you will need to dose daily.
Daily dosages at the quantity recommended on the bottle will not be dangerous to your fish nor their ecological system.
Although I personally feel it is much safer to do water changes to keep the ammonia in check as opposed to letting it build up while 'detoxifying' it with Prime. Ammonium is much much less toxic than ammonia, but high concentrations of ammonium still are not good for your fish.
nc_nutcase;4167227; said:
I only use Prime as a de-chlorinator, not to manage ammonia. Like you I believe in water changes, and do 2-3 a week(25-80%), depending on the tank and its inhabitants and have never had a problem.
So I did another series of tests on the front tank: ammonia 1ppm, Nitrite .5, Nitrate 0. Also re tested my moori tank : ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5. These readings taken 10-15 minutes after measuring the test samples.
2-3 a week? wow 80% ? why? that will cause a mini cycle IMO plus stress the crap out of your fronts. powerfeeding wont make them grow any faster if that is what you are doing. fronts like it calm and quiet and minimal water chemistry changes if at all possible. I change my water maybe once a month and 25% the most.
I should clarify, I only do 80% on Malawi fry tanks,-10gal, 20 gal & 33 gal, not on the fronts. I was just making the point that I do lots of water changes, old habit held over from my Discus breeding days. It has done well by be me.
I'll admit I'm a bit lost...
You are getting nitrate readings on your moori tank, so I can only assume you are performing the nitrate test correct...
Unless you are doing an astronomical amount of water changes on the Front tanks and are removign any trace of nitrate as fast as it's being produced... but I don't believe this could be possible since you have both ammonia & nitrite present...
Despite all the concern we show, it is quite difficult to totally wipe out a bacterial colony. Anything we did to our tank to 100% wipe out our bacterial colony would also likely kill the fish.
I do not agree that frequent massive water changes will cause a mini cycle. While I do not promote it to others, I often do 25% water changes without adding dechlorinator and see absolutely no mini cycle as a result. Doing much larger frequent changes with a dechlorinator will pose no threat.
I'm not experienced in Fronts personally, but I am aware they like calm waters and are often stressed by fast moving fish so I can only assume frequent large water changes would also be disturbing to them. Yet you have cleared up that you do not do this to your Front tanks.
I'll confess... I'm a bit confused by your situation... If I were in your shoes I'd plan on doing frequent/daily water changes until your bacteria colony builds up... add mature media from an established tank if possible... consider using a bacterial supplement such as Stability to speed things along...
You are getting nitrate readings on your moori tank, so I can only assume you are performing the nitrate test correct...
Unless you are doing an astronomical amount of water changes on the Front tanks and are removign any trace of nitrate as fast as it's being produced... but I don't believe this could be possible since you have both ammonia & nitrite present...
Despite all the concern we show, it is quite difficult to totally wipe out a bacterial colony. Anything we did to our tank to 100% wipe out our bacterial colony would also likely kill the fish.
I do not agree that frequent massive water changes will cause a mini cycle. While I do not promote it to others, I often do 25% water changes without adding dechlorinator and see absolutely no mini cycle as a result. Doing much larger frequent changes with a dechlorinator will pose no threat.
I'm not experienced in Fronts personally, but I am aware they like calm waters and are often stressed by fast moving fish so I can only assume frequent large water changes would also be disturbing to them. Yet you have cleared up that you do not do this to your Front tanks.
I'll confess... I'm a bit confused by your situation... If I were in your shoes I'd plan on doing frequent/daily water changes until your bacteria colony builds up... add mature media from an established tank if possible... consider using a bacterial supplement such as Stability to speed things along...
