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Re: Didn't cycle tank, ammonia levels are off the chart
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 1:00 am
by JRC3
I will PriorityMail some cycled filter media to bring your current filter up to speed. What filter are you using now? I or other members will tell you how to properly seed your current filter. If somebody is in the OP's town, the they could do it easier.
Re: Didn't cycle tank, ammonia levels are off the chart
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:11 am
by J-P
if you are using "Prime" you will still read the ammonia but it is not toxic.
Follow the directions on the bottle and you should be good. The build up of beneficial bacteria doesn't know non toxic forms of ammonia from the toxic forms.
You should be good to go with water changes daily but I personally wouldn't do 80% while using "Prime". More like 25~30%. Make sure you have enough of it to last the next 4 weeks +
Re: Didn't cycle tank, ammonia levels are off the chart
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 12:09 pm
by Pufferpunk
Prime may detoxify "some" of the ammonia but not all. What about at dangerously high levels?
Re: Didn't cycle tank, ammonia levels are off the chart
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 2:11 am
by Nuclear_Glitter
Maybe you could sell some of the GSPs on aquabid.com so you can have a more manageable tank.
Re: Didn't cycle tank, ammonia levels are off the chart
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 9:31 am
by J-P
Pufferpunk wrote:Prime may detoxify "some" of the ammonia but not all. What about at dangerously high levels?
not sure... there really is no way of testing it. Our tests can't tell neutral vs harmful ammonia. Also the directions on the bottle are per gallon not per ppm. of ammonia... so that is another question mark.
There still has to be some residual ammonia in there for the bacteria to consume and develop. It is kind of a sticky situation either way. 80% water changes a couple times a day may reduce the ammonia to 0 but it may also delay the cycling process and then you have to match the temps. 30 ~50% will reduce the ammonia but not eliminate it but matching the temps is much easier and there is less rick in delaying the cycling process. It is really a matter of reading the numbers.
When I had that happen to me a while back, and was using prime, when the ammonia hit 4ppm I did a water change with prime to keep it at 2 or under. Being diligent and watching the numbers, I believe, is more important than the actual volume.