Water quality problems.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
M

MattyA

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 2, 2013
118
0
0
Australia
Noticed the peacock bass were a bit sluggish so i did a water test.

Ammonia 3ppm, nitrite .25ppm and nitrate up near 60ppm.

I have no idea why I'm having water troubles, I have a 4ft sump running with a huge chamber of scoria, 500 bio balls and 2 big sponge filters in the display tank. I started having all these water problems since I started using Seachem safe so I'm wondering if its that, seems like I'm wiping out my bateria colony each water change. I use two teaspoons of safe which is actually overdosing but I't should not hurt it.

Such a big PITFA
icon_evil.gif


Stock is 22" barramundi, 20" jardini toga, 3 10" peacock bass and one 10" dovii. tanks an 8x2x2 so roughly 240g, around 300g with the sump. I do a 60-70% waterchange a week.

All help greatly appreciated.
 
At the moment I'm trying to get rid of the barra but not having any luck at all. I have done a 70% water change, dropped pH down low and turned the heater off (its hot today anyway) to lower the toxicity of the ammonia. I will add some salt for the nitrite too. I might put the peacock bass in the 6x2x2 for the time being till I sort this problem out.
 
sounds like some cycle disruption.
large stockload= no wiggle room for messing up your bio conversion's max efficiency.

just a guess: IF you're 100% sure that nothing else has changed except using Safe, I'd say stop overdosing at every water change. It is MUCH more potent than Prime. They neutralize ammonia & nitrites, which feed BB. I wonder if over-saturating the filtration system (every week) could starve some BB.
As I understand it, the recommended dose for Prime is "actually" about 5 times what's needed for standard water treatment. the extra amount is insurance against possible excess chloramines.
I'd use a normal, conservative dose & see if your bio returns to stabilizing the water parameters.
 
petspoiler said:
sounds like some cycle disruption.
large stockload= no wiggle room for messing up your bio conversion's max efficiency.

just a guess: IF you're 100% sure that nothing else has changed except using Safe, I'd say stop overdosing at every water change. It is MUCH more potent than Prime. They neutralize ammonia & nitrites, which feed BB. I wonder if over-saturating the filtration system (every week) could starve some BB.
As I understand it, the recommended dose for Prime is "actually" about 5 times what's needed for standard water treatment. the extra amount is insurance against possible excess chloramines.
I'd use a normal, conservative dose & see if your bio returns to stabilizing the water parameters.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that, it actually makes sense. I will stick to the normal guidelines and see if the situation fixes. If it doesn't it looks like I'll have to get a 6ft sump for the extra media.
 
petspoiler said:
sounds like some cycle disruption.
large stockload= no wiggle room for messing up your bio conversion's max efficiency.

just a guess: IF you're 100% sure that nothing else has changed except using Safe, I'd say stop overdosing at every water change. It is MUCH more potent than Prime. They neutralize ammonia & nitrites, which feed BB. I wonder if over-saturating the filtration system (every week) could starve some BB.
As I understand it, the recommended dose for Prime is "actually" about 5 times what's needed for standard water treatment. the extra amount is insurance against possible excess chloramines.
I'd use a normal, conservative dose & see if your bio returns to stabilizing the water parameters.
Click to expand...

I was under the impression that although prime/safe neutralise ammonia and nitrite, they convert them to a form still usable by the biological filter. ie ammonia to ammonium or some such. Both still read on most test kits, so you could have a high reading for ammonia, but it could all be in its 'safe form'. Am I wrong in thinking this?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
There is no 'safe form' of ammonia, ammonium is just less lethal. BB is still able to consume ammonium anyway. Either way I want 0 ammonia and nitrite, still striving for low nitrates too, might have to set up a denitrator.

The barra will be gone soon which will help, he's a massive bio load on the system.

Thanks for the responses and help too guys, much appreciated.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom