So I recently tested my water for nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia, and all seem to be at dangerously high levels. I have this bottle of AmQuel + which is supposed to remove that. It says its non-toxic, but do you guys think it's okay to put some of this in the tank with the fish still in there?
Reducing Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia?
- Thread starter josephjeon
- Start date
Like stated before make sure your tank is cycled, and water changes are very important in removing nitrates and nitrites. Chemicals are no substitute for good'ole fashion water changes, but make sure you treat the water before adding it to the tank.
elting44;4676016; said:
The tank wasn't really cycled, I didn't do my homework and I got peer-pressured/scammed by my LFS to buy starter bacteria and throw my fish in too soon. They seem rather healthy, but the readings are bothering me.
So is it okay to put some AmQuel Plus in the tank WITH the fish still inside?
ironic, i just picked up a bottle of that stuff for the first time!
heres an exerp:
"COMPATIBILITIES
AmQuel+ is harmless to plants, fishes, invertebrates (including corals and sea anemones), and other aquatic life forms. This product is safe for use in aquariums and ponds and will not interfere with biological filtration or its bacteria. When AmQuel+ detoxifies ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and other organic compounds, it breaks the links of molecules apart. The nitrifying bacteria do not know the difference and eat the parts, just as they would the whole original compounds.
Where AmQuel+ is particularly useful is in its detoxification of all nitrates in the water. There are not sufficient bacteria in the aquarium (fresh or salt water) and pond water to do this. In the past the only way to get rid of nitrates from aquariums and ponds was by water changes. Now this can be done in a few minutes with AmQuel+. This leaves the main reason for making water changes (now needed less frequently) to replacing trace elements in the water. For this Kordon's fresh or saltwater VitaTrace can be used that replenishes both the trace elements and vitamins needed in the water."
So yes, it is perfectly fine to add the amquel+ in with the tank fully set up and stocked.
heres an exerp:
"COMPATIBILITIES
AmQuel+ is harmless to plants, fishes, invertebrates (including corals and sea anemones), and other aquatic life forms. This product is safe for use in aquariums and ponds and will not interfere with biological filtration or its bacteria. When AmQuel+ detoxifies ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and other organic compounds, it breaks the links of molecules apart. The nitrifying bacteria do not know the difference and eat the parts, just as they would the whole original compounds.
Where AmQuel+ is particularly useful is in its detoxification of all nitrates in the water. There are not sufficient bacteria in the aquarium (fresh or salt water) and pond water to do this. In the past the only way to get rid of nitrates from aquariums and ponds was by water changes. Now this can be done in a few minutes with AmQuel+. This leaves the main reason for making water changes (now needed less frequently) to replacing trace elements in the water. For this Kordon's fresh or saltwater VitaTrace can be used that replenishes both the trace elements and vitamins needed in the water."
So yes, it is perfectly fine to add the amquel+ in with the tank fully set up and stocked.
WeeNe858;4676037; said:
Alright man, i'll give it a go! I am doing water changes too, hopefully things will calm down... big mistake on my part not researching cycling...:[
josephjeon;4676063; said:
Common mistake, dont sweat it, what type of fish do you have, if they are hardy they should survive the cycle.
In a typical cycle you wont have Amm, Nitrite, Nitrate spikes all at the same time (ammonia is introduced, beneficial bacteria colonize and process it, nitrites appears, other bacteria process it, Nitrates build up and are removed via water changes and live plants)
I am not an expert of doing fishless or quick cycles. Hopefully someone else has some advice that well help you, doing a water change is a good idea. Make sure you treat your water with Prime or another water conditioner that will remove any chlorine to your new water before or as you are adding it to the tank. If you just use tap water it may have chlorine/chlormines (sp?) that could kill the beneficial bacteria that you already have
elting44;4676155; said:
I have three 11 inch silver aros in there with 1 sailfin pleco about 8 inches in length. They seem to be doing fine, no stress at all, but the readings just threw me off guard.
josephjeon;4676021; said:
Not their fault, yours. Keep up on water changes until the tank is cycled. But bacteria need a steady supply of ammonia to becom established. So keep that in mind when doing large water changes