What's the best way to fight ammonia?
- Thread starter Brisk
- Start date
I agree with all the comments and suggestions, and would also add that you need to get a complete freshwater test kit so you can test for other parameters as well as ammonia. If you have high ph then the ammonia is more toxic to fish and you will need to be more diligent in keeping it as low as possible. You will also need to be able to test for nitrite and nitrate to successfully cycle the tank. If you can get a python or similar water changing device it will make your life much easier. Also avoid heavy feedings during the process. Read as much as you can on aquarium cycling. I have cycled a number of aquariums with fish in them, it requires some work and patience, but is not that hard.
The importance of cycling cannot be overstated. Larger tanks take more time to properly cycle, but once cycled are far more stable than smaller tanks. As previously stated, adding material from an already cycled tank will speed things up. It is important to have plenty of biomedia for the nitrifying bacteria to colonize. What type of filter are you using?
If you cycle your tank using pure ammonia, you don't add fish until it cycled.
If you are cycling the tank with fish in it, you should expect them to die (maybe you will be lucky and they don't), unless you are prepared to do lots of water changes. So in other words, any fish you use, should be considered sacrificial. Or very few, very hardy, small fish until the tank tests free of ammonia, and then add only a few more at a time, and gradually, to allow the ammonia consuming bacterial population to adjust to the new fish numbers.
If you are cycling the tank with fish in it, you should expect them to die (maybe you will be lucky and they don't), unless you are prepared to do lots of water changes. So in other words, any fish you use, should be considered sacrificial. Or very few, very hardy, small fish until the tank tests free of ammonia, and then add only a few more at a time, and gradually, to allow the ammonia consuming bacterial population to adjust to the new fish numbers.
I used giant danios to cycle mine, after seeding the filter with bacteria. They all lived, until eaten by the piranha.
Hello; This may only be a bit of being picky, but the entire tank is cycled not only the filter. The bb will likely be in the filter and media because there is a good flow of water all the time and ammonia from the fish and other processes will pass by. The bb will colonize all other tank surfaces eventually again by my thinking more likely where there is a water flow. My earliest tanks had no filters at all and the flow was by convection heating. I point this out as there seems to be a line of thought that considers only the filter media to have bb.
Hello; I understand the wish to rush to having fish in a new tank but without a source of bb to use up the ammonia any fish will be harmed. The fish may live but I have read that there will likely be damage.
If you have a friend with an established tank try to borrow some tank décor, substrate, old filter media or anything solid. If no friend then go to a fish shop and buy a bunch of free floating live plants from a display tank. The plants may have some bb on their surfaces and the live plants can take up some of the ammonia themselves.
If you mush have fish right away without a cycled tank some expense can be saved by not getting the more costly ones. Of course these fish may suffer and die.
Hello; Here is a link to an article I use for reference. It is a long read and I have gone back to it several times. There is a portion about the ways to "cycle" a tank.
Aquarium cycling link
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/nitrogen_cycle.html
Aquarium cycling link
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/nitrogen_cycle.html
You got a lot of good advice including suggestions to why and how to cycle. If I were in your shoes I would:
1) Get a FW test kit, this will help you get an idea of your water parameters. Not only while you cycle but long after your tank is established.
2) Since you have fish now, use something like Seachem Prime when performing water changes AND this helps to neutralize ammonia and nitrite as your tank is cycling. Follow the directions on the bottle for usage and dosage.
You will be fine...just read up on the nitrogen cycle for tanks while you wait for your tank to do its thing.
1) Get a FW test kit, this will help you get an idea of your water parameters. Not only while you cycle but long after your tank is established.
2) Since you have fish now, use something like Seachem Prime when performing water changes AND this helps to neutralize ammonia and nitrite as your tank is cycling. Follow the directions on the bottle for usage and dosage.
You will be fine...just read up on the nitrogen cycle for tanks while you wait for your tank to do its thing.
