Why NOT use Ammo-lock?

[modernhamlet]

From the Krib FAQ on Cycling (http/faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html):

Minimizing Fish Stress During Initial Cycling
Should ammonia levels become high during the cycling process, corrective measures will need to be taken to prevent fish deaths. Most likely, you will simply perform a sequence of partial water changes, thereby diluting ammonia to safer concentrations.

As a final caution, several commercial products (e.g., ``Amquel'' or ``Ammo-Lock'') safely neutralize ammonia's toxicity. Amquel does not remove the ammonia, it simply neutralizes its toxicity. Biological filtration is still needed to convert the (neutralized) ammonia to nitrite and nitrate. Thus, adding Amquel causes the ammonia produced by the fish to be neutralized instantly, yet still allows the nitrogen cycle to proceed. Using Amquel during the cycling phase has one significant drawback, however. Amquel (and similar products) may cause ammonia test kits to give false readings, making it difficult to determine exactly when cycling has completed. See the TEST KIT SECTION for details.

It is also possible to cycle a tank without ever adding fish. The role fish provide in the cycling process is simply their steady production of ammonia; the same effect can be achieved by adding chemical forms of ammonia manually (e.g., ammonium chloride). However, it is a bit more complicated than using fish because the water chemistry needs to be monitored more closely in order to add the proper amount of ammonia on a day-to-day basis.

(I fishless cycle so I'm simply...)

Playing devil's advocate here:

If your test kit isn't fooled by Amquel false readings, why wouldn't you use a neutralizer to keep the ammonia and nitrites down during the cycle? Unlike water changes, which dilute the amount of ammonia/nitrite available to the bacteria, using one of the neutralizers should just render it harmless, but still available for conversion.

I know this runs counter to the message we generally preach, but it's had me thinking lately. What do others think?

 

[CFC]

Thats a very good point and not one that i can think of any good reason why not to do as long as the next step of the cycle isnt interupted and nitrites and ultimately nitrates are created. However there is one drawback, i can see little point in spending money on a product to neutralize ammonia when the fish would still have to suffer the high levels of nitrite which is just as dangerous, if you are doing a fishless cycle then there is no need since the ammonia wont be hurting anything.

 

[Bol]

Good question, and "Cost" would probably be my answer, followed by "it's unnecessary".

Although water changes can dilute the amount of toxins in the tank, I have no idea at what point such dilution would significantly hamper bacteria growth. That is, water changes may still leave "enough" toxins in the water for a cycle to proceed normally, and at pretty much the same rate.