If a bio-filter was over-loaded, how long would it take to show up on a simple ammonia / Nitrite test? In other words, I have a fairly new tank with a small bio-load. I added some new fish about a week ago and have not seen any change/spike in ammonia or nitrite. If there was going to be an impact on the bio-filter, would I have seen it by now, after 1 week? or could the spike still be ahead? I thought that if I didn't see anything within about 3-4 days, it was safe - but not entirely sure. thanks.
Overloading biofilter - how long does it take
- Thread starter erik333
- Start date
No one has any thoughts? I thought this would be a decent topic, but I got nothin but crickets in return.
Within the week you'll notice an impact if you've added enough stock to overwork the biolfilter. Chances are you may not even notice a spike IF your filtration, water changes, and tank size compared to stock are relatively good. What size tank is it/what kind of fish and how many?
I agree with Josh,
And it depends on how much of a bioload is added.
Whenever you add fish=bioload, your beneficial bacteria population will grow exponentially to meet the food provided.
Now if you've had only 4 neons in a 100 gal, and you add 4 full grown Herichthys pearsei it might time for the population to catch up, and an increase in ammonia would be noticeable, but if you go from 4 neons to 10 in the same tank, you may never detect even the slightest bump.
And it depends on how much of a bioload is added.
Whenever you add fish=bioload, your beneficial bacteria population will grow exponentially to meet the food provided.
Now if you've had only 4 neons in a 100 gal, and you add 4 full grown Herichthys pearsei it might time for the population to catch up, and an increase in ammonia would be noticeable, but if you go from 4 neons to 10 in the same tank, you may never detect even the slightest bump.
+1. All depends on the stock added and how many you add all at once. Made that mistake several times lol.
Thanks . Tank is 355 GAL. There were 3 small (2") geophagus red head Tapajos in there. I added 8 Corydora semiaquilus, 12 Corydoras fowleri, 1 Gold Severum (5"), 1 satanoperca leucosticta (4"), 1 L-177(3"), 1 L-273 (2"), 1 L27 (4"), 1 L134 (3"). I also added filter material from the tank that they came from. No spike in ammonia or No2 was observed in 8 days. I have been testing daily. I think I am safe.
you didn't even come close to pushing that bioload haha. That's a huge amount of water per the small fish you added. Once the plecos grow a bit there will be a noticeable increase in your nitrates, but your biofilter will grow with the fish as they produce more waste and you need to feed more.
It also depends upon how much and how often you feed the fish. You can overload any biofilter by overfeeding.
Since the fish were introduced, I have been feeding 1x per day MAX and below average amounts of food. After a few minutes, there is no uneaten food in the tank.