High Nitrate

[Rorie]

Whats bacteria booster?

What quantity of ammonia was your filter processing in 12hrs at the end of cycling?
And how long will the time period be from when you stopped adding ammonia and to when the fish will be introduced?
Somebody (Waterdrop ) may be able to advise how much bacteria loss you may get?

Em, it was doing 5ppm in 12 hours and the nitrite of course. I did this for a good 5 days I think after the nitrite was processed. I then added my plants on thur evening, and my fish will arrive on Tuesday morning.

It's, em, I've forgotten! The yellow bottles, sera or something?! Good, expensive stuff anyway haha. I was told that not a huge amount of bacteria would die off, but I was tempted to add some ammonia just now anyway- just a bit so as to keep the bacteria ticking over, but not enough to destroy my plants.....

 

[Bignose]

You should add ammonia. The vast majority of aquatic plants take up ammonia as their preferred nitrogen source. It will be indicative of how healthy and growing your plants are to see if they can take up that ammonia. If not, then the plants aren't growing yet and what bacteria you grow has died off.

I'd be really surprised if the ammonia cannot be taken care of, though. Fishkeeping bacteria only die off at around 10% a day or so if left without food, and with the plants in there too, the ammonia should be gone.

Lastly, regarding the nitrate -- most fish can do fine up to a very high level of nitrate. 1000 ppm. (No, not a typo, one-thousand parts per million.) It is not anywhere near the poison ammonia or nitrite are. There is some evidence that fry don't take to it well, and of course each species and individual is different, but thousands of ppms are needed before you really get into issues. And, your plants will take up some nitrate too. A lot of plants will actually take it up and then convert it to ammonia before using it. That's why ammonia will be taken up first, because it is nitrogen in the form that the plants prefer to use already.

 

[Rorie]

You should add ammonia. The vast majority of aquatic plants take up ammonia as their preferred nitrogen source. It will be indicative of how healthy and growing your plants are to see if they can take up that ammonia. If not, then the plants aren't growing yet and what bacteria you grow has died off.

I'd be really surprised if the ammonia cannot be taken care of, though. Fishkeeping bacteria only die off at around 10% a day or so if left without food, and with the plants in there too, the ammonia should be gone.

Lastly, regarding the nitrate -- most fish can do fine up to a very high level of nitrate. 1000 ppm. (No, not a typo, one-thousand parts per million.) It is not anywhere near the poison ammonia or nitrite are. There is some evidence that fry don't take to it well, and of course each species and individual is different, but thousands of ppms are needed before you really get into issues. And, your plants will take up some nitrate too. A lot of plants will actually take it up and then convert it to ammonia before using it. That's why ammonia will be taken up first, because it is nitrogen in the form that the plants prefer to use already.

Ah, i'm worried!! I added ammonia last night to give my filer that boost. Today, 16 hours on, i have reading os 8.0ppm ammonia (even though i only put in the same which previously gave my 4.0ppm, Nitrite is 0.25, Nitrate is still at 80PPM. But on top of my new worry that my filter is not processing the ammonia, my plants (especially the moss) has started to go brown!!!!! What do i do?!

 

[Joshwainwright]

Water change! Aquatic plants do take in ammonia as their primary source of nitrogen but an extremely high ammonia level could actually damage your plants. You need to get the ammonia down a little.

 

[Rorie]

Water change! Aquatic plants do take in ammonia as their primary source of nitrogen but an extremely high ammonia level could actually damage your plants. You need to get the ammonia down a little.

Ok, should i keep adding ammonia each day to keep the bacteria up for the fish? I am a little worried now all this planning has gone to pot!

 

[Joshwainwright]

I would, yes. Just make sure it doesn't get too high again.

 

[Rorie]

I have just worked out what the problem was. Last night's decision of "I know, i will add ammonia to help" was made after some wine. And apparently i slipped up big time by adding 90ml....thats how much de-chlorinatior i should add, not ammonia! I should only be adding 18ml of ammonia!!! So big water change is currently in progress, and i will be hoping that we will be back in line with a 12 hour process time

OOPS!

 

[Joshwainwright]

Woops indeed. I hope the water change will do the trick!

 

[Gilli]

Mistakes can be made - another reason why I would never add 54 fish in one go!

 

[Joshwainwright]

That's a though lol, have a few days off the wine before adding your fish!

 

[Rorie]

Mistakes can be made - another reason why I would never add 54 fish in one go!

Life is full of risks! I have done everything possible to ensure i have a safe and appropriate environment for the fish when they arrive. I have followed a know, tried and tested way to prep my tank for them arriving. I just had a misshap today last night due to human/drinking error. I am confident all will go well, as there is nothing there to show it wont go to plan!! But of course, water can keep secrets and unleash weapons at surprise, so there is a chance of things going wrong, butwhat can you do! Short of adding 2 cardinals a week, this is the best method.

That's a though lol, have a few days off the wine before adding your fish!

My hangover agrees with you

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

90ml of ammonia!

The a bacs must have been pi--ed as you!