Ammonia And Nitrite Removal

[joncairns]

Quick question:

If I put an ammonia remover in my external filter will that stop any Nitrite build up ? As I understand it , nitite breaks down the ammonia,so presumably if there is no ammonia there can be no nitrite ?

If the above is correct presumably the nitrate that follows ammonia breakdown will also be avoided ? I have some nitrate in the tap water I use, so expect a small reading each time I test the water anyway.

Thank you,

Jon

 

[GlidergirlUK]

It will do exactly that BUT your filter will suffer as the bacteria will have no ammonia to live off and will die....thus forcing you to re cycle at some point.

 

[joncairns]

Thats what I was hoping to avoid. I have a Fluval 305 on the go.having recently upgraded from a 105. I put the biomax from the old filter in to the new one,but no other filter media from the old one. The tank is up and running with fish and I started to get nitrite and nitrate readings (lowish for both).

The box the ammonia remover came in said it is fine for new tanks,so I thought it should be ok.Just hope when it recycles that my fish will survive.

Any suggestions.

Jon

 

[arobinson1984]

You will just have to follow a fish-in cycle as if the tank was new.

Perform water changes to keep the levels of ammonia and nitrIte down. Any chemicals added to lower the ammonia will only have a negative effect in the long run. Let nature takes its course and develop your a proper biofilter.

Andy

 

[Bobtastic]

I agree with the above. I don't think it is much to expect that there will be a little increase in Ammonia and NitrITEs as a result in a filter swap. The only way that I could think you would stop this would be to run the 105 and the 305 along side each other. After a time the bacteria will grow in the new 305 but while that is happening the 105 will keep the levels down.