Ultimatum !!! Help with tank !

[skjl47]

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Even though I dosed the tank with BB? Wouldn't new water mess the whole thing up ?

Hello; A few posts back I read one of the links that was sent to you. It talked about how you can get false positive ammonia readings with a test kit. Has to do with free amonnia which is the bad stuff and other forms that are not harmful all showing up together. If you have not read those links, may I suggest they are worth reading.

I believe that was why getting the seachem ammonia alert device was stressed so much. At this point it seemes to me that you should go by that device. Am I correct in that this device is showing the ammonia levels to be OK?

On to another subject, the tap water and it's treatment. You asked if the ammonia is killing the bb. I do not know that the ammonia is the culprit. My take is that it was the chlorine and chloramine in the local tap water that was killing the bb. I believe you stated that you have acquired a new source of "prime" or the equivalent for treating the tapwater. Perhaps one of the other members with specific experience can verify this, but I do not think there is any danger from doing a water change as long as you treat the tank and the fresh tap water. I am also of the understanding that "prime" does not harm the bb in a tank.

 

[Woefulrelic]

Your summaries are actually the greatest thing for my scattered thoughts. Could you just follow me around and do this everyday skjl47? I will expect a lot and won't pay you anything but friendship is priceless right?

 

[Pataphysicist]

Hello; A few posts back I read one of the links that was sent to you. It talked about how you can get false positive ammonia readings with a test kit. Has to do with free amonnia which is the bad stuff and other forms that are not harmful all showing up together. If you have not read those links, may I suggest they are worth reading.

I believe that was why getting the seachem ammonia alert device was stressed so much. At this point it seemes to me that you should go by that device. Am I correct in that this device is showing the ammonia levels to be OK?

On to another subject, the tap water and it's treatment. You asked if the ammonia is killing the bb. I do not know that the ammonia is the culprit. My take is that it was the chlorine and chloramine in the local tap water that was killing the bb. I believe you stated that you have acquired a new source of "prime" or the equivalent for treating the tapwater. Perhaps one of the other members with specific experience can verify this, but I do not think there is any danger from doing a water change as long as you treat the tank and the fresh tap water. I am also of the understanding that "prime" does not harm the bb in a tank.

The ammonia bottle is the first one on the picture . the one that's really dark green, 8.0+ ammonia reading . like you just said , it was the chlorine and chloramine + adding new fish that killed my bb. So this means every time I do a water change am going to keep killing my darn bb? Should I do 10-15% daily water changes for a week then ? But adding new tap water also means new chlorine , chloramine added in the tank. Treating tank and testing water before goes in tank with prime would take all day for a wc and 50 buckets of water...

 

[skjl47]

Hello; On to another topic. I put this in a separate post to avoid getting it lost. I understand that you have used some store bought stuff that is supposed to supply bb. First I have never used the stuff so cannot sya if it is good or bad. I have read threads over the last few years that lead me to suspect it is not the panacea you hope for.

I go back to a suggestion that several have made. Go to someone with an established and cycled tank. Beg, borrow, buy or steal some bb loaded stuff from them. Old filter media being a first choice, but most any solid surface should have some bb on it. Keep the stuff wet, dont take too long and get it into your tanks to seed the bb.

 

[Woefulrelic]

Treat water before adding

 

[Pataphysicist]

Hello; On to another topic. I put this in a separate post to avoid getting it lost. I understand that you have used some store bought stuff that is supposed to supply bb. First I have never used the stuff so cannot sya if it is good or bad. I have read threads over the last few years that lead me to suspect it is not the panacea you hope for.

I go back to a suggestion that several have made. Go to someone with an established and cycled tank. Beg, borrow, buy or steal some bb loaded stuff from them. Old filter media being a first choice, but most any solid surface should have some bb on it. Keep the stuff wet, dont take too long and get it into your tanks to seed the bb.

Alright , so here is the true question . Let's say I grab some media with some nice BB, and drop it on my tank . wouldn't the ammonia that's in the tank ATM kill it? Also when I do water changes in the future does it mean I have to fill buckets and treat water before goes in the tank?

 

[skjl47]

Hello; On to another topic. I put this in a separate post to avoid getting it lost. I understand that you have used some store bought stuff that is supposed to supply bb. First I have never used the stuff so cannot sya if it is good or bad. I have read threads over the last few years that lead me to suspect it is not the panacea you hope for.

I go back to a suggestion that several have made. Go to someone with an established and cycled tank. Beg, borrow, buy or steal some bb loaded stuff from them. Old filter media being a first choice, but most any solid surface should have some bb on it. Keep the stuff wet, dont take too long and get it into your tanks to seed the bb.

The ammonia bottle is the first one on the picture . the one that's really dark green, 8.0+ ammonia reading . like you just said , it was the chlorine and chloramine + adding new fish that killed my bb. So this means every time I do a water change am going to keep killing my darn bb? Should I do 10-15% daily water changes for a week then ? But adding new tap water also means new chlorine , chloramine added in the tank. Treating tank and testing water before goes in tank with prime would take all day for a wc and 50 buckets of water...

Hello; NO! The prime is for treating the tap water an making it safe to use. It is supposed to treat the chlorine/chloramine and prevent the death of the bb. Use it as directed and the tap water is supposed to be safe to use for the water changes. That was why getting a new source of the "prime" was stressed. Some feel that the stuff you had gotten in the past was too dilluted or perhaps out of date. Once mixed into a liquid form it has a limited shelf life. It was suggested that you get the poweder form in a fresh and factory sealed container.

 

[Pataphysicist]

Hello; NO! The prime is for treating the tap water an making it safe to use. It is supposed to treat the chlorine/chloramine and prevent the death of the bb. Use it as directed and the tap water is supposed to be safe to use for the water changes. That was why getting a new source of the "prime" was stressed. Some feel that the stuff you had gotten in the past was too dilluted or perhaps out of date. Once mixed into a liquid form it has a limited shelf life. It was suggested that you get the poweder form in a fresh and factory sealed container.

Usually the way i did water changes was drain 25% then treat tank, then add to water straight from fosid . can I still do that or I need to treat tap water before enters the tank

 

[Woefulrelic]

Before and after.

 

[skjl47]

Alright , so here is the true question . Let's say I grab some media with some nice BB, and drop it on my tank . wouldn't the ammonia that's in the tank ATM kill it? Also when I do water changes in the future does it mean I have to fill buckets and treat water before goes in the tank?

Hello; NO! The bb feed on ammonia. It is their food so to speak. They like ammonia. The bb are the part of the cycle that remove the ammonia.

Yes. You trreat the fresh tap water with the prime every time you do a water change. I have read of different methods, but recall that some members treat in the buckets before adding the water to the tank and also adding prime to the tank.

I am not the best person to give advice on how to use the prime, would some other member chime in here and run thru how to use the prime during a water change???