is it better to remove ammonia "immediately" or...

[jarthel]

let it go through the nitrogen cycle so it would end up as nitrate (which I believe are good for plants)?

there are various filter media that can remove ammonia with zeolite being the cheapest I believe.

Any thoughts?

Thank you

[joz]

I believe in letting the tank cycle naturaly,then once the filter is mature enough it will take care of itself.

[yarra2]

I agree with Joz. One of my SA tanks has higher than normal Ammonia readings but it is slowly correcting itself and doesn't seem to do any harm to the fish.

Mike

[jarthel]

I agree with Joz. One of my SA tanks has higher than normal Ammonia readings but it is slowly correcting itself and doesn't seem to do any harm to the fish.

Mike
I doubt all the ammonia is doing nothing to the fish.

from what I have read, the bacteria colony is required to turn ammonia into nitrates and then nitrates (less harmful to the fish). nitrates is food for the plants but why wait for the cycle to finish when nutrients are easily available from an additive?

if you have a planted tank, ammonia is also food too so the zeolite would be working on excess ammonia. and the good thing with zeolite is that it's reusable (bath/soak in salty water)

and zeolite (or whatever ammonia-absorbing media you used. seachem has some as well) replacement can be part of your routine when cleaning the canister.

[wombat1100]

A lot of people like me prefer to have chemical free tanks and in saying that i guess its a bit of each to there own i guess.
I cant understand why anyone would put chemicals into a tank when there is other ways of handling things like letting the tank cycle naturally.
Patience is the key in my opinion

[jarthel]

A lot of people like me prefer to have chemical free tanks and in saying that i guess its a bit of each to there own i guess.
I cant understand why anyone would put chemicals into a tank when there is other ways of handling things like letting the tank cycle naturally.
Patience is the key in my opinion

zeolite does not work that way. It absorbs chemicals much like carbon. zeolite does not put chemical into the system. and zeolite is a naturally-occuring rock unlike inorganic fertilizers or medicines.

[yarra2]

As a general comment, may I suggest staying away from products like Ammo Lock and that sort of product. Go for `natural' if you can. More frequent water changes etc.

Mike

[joz]

I doubt all the ammonia is doing nothing to the fish.



I agree.

What I really meant was adding fish after the tank has cycled and stabilised.

Another product is ammolock,this also stops it being harmful to your fish.
But I prefer the natural method even though I have used zeolite before.

[yarra2]

This is becoming a little confused... I was referring to a higher than normal ammonia reading doing no apparent harm - maybe I should have clarified and said, `a slightly higher' reading. The problem with Ammo Lock is that it essentially gives a false reading and doesn't fix the underlying problem. I was told by my LFS that it will eventually be withdrawn from the market by API. I've no way of verifying this but he's taken it off his shelves.

Mike

[joz]

Fair enough too.I was only going by what I have heard.

Apparently Ammolock only stops the ammonia from being toxic???
It's still there and continues to measure.
But maybe useful in an emergency situation until things can be properly corrected.

Btw i have never used it so am only going by others comments.

[letstalktanks]

Joz. I think you're right. Ammolock stops the ammonia from being toxic, but still allows it to complete the cycle.

So if you use Ammolock when you get an ammonia spike, my understanding is that you'll still then get a Nitrite spike as it moves through the cycle.

The Nitrogen Cycle is a critical part of your aquarium and really, you can't avoid it... So go with it.

In my opinion, the best way to manage is is to boost your aquarium's bacteria with a product like StressZyme+. Let the aquarium do its cycle then remove the final nitrates with water changes.

Hmmm... That comment sounds like I'm saying that you should NOT do water changes while the tank is establishing itself, which is not true. You need to otherwise the ammonia and nitrites will knock off your fish...