4-Day Medication, Control Ammonia/nitrite/nitrate W/o Water Changes

[Kevin_AK]

Good Afternoon,

I am in the middle of a 4-day treatment of some fungus, and I want to control the ammonia + nitrite + nitrate but according to the medication instructions I should not do a water change until after day 4. I have been using Ammo-Lock but am curious if others have had a better experience with Prime. The Ammo-Lock guidance says use it every 2 days, but can I use it daily without introducing another problem? I am trying to weigh possible elevated levels of ammonia + nitrite + nitrate versus over-using a product.

I am trying to keep the bio-filter functioning as much as possible during this 4-day medication period, and I have read that Ammo-Lock and Prime convert toxic ammonia - nitrite - nitrate into non-toxic forms.

Are there other options to control the mentioned parameters? I am aware of Ammo-Chips but I believe they totally remove ammonia which would starve the bio-filter.

 

[Caprichoso]

IMO, it's best to do water changes to decrease ammonia and nitrite spikes. The benefit to it is it will also help with fungal and bacterial issues. Me personally, I would always do the water changes first, sort out the levels, then medicate if absolutely necessary. To treat fungal and bacterial infection, I always suggest to do an initial 50% water change, then daily 25% for about 10 days then 50% weekly as your regular maintenance. When ammonia or nitrite present, the initial water change should be 75%, followed by a 50% the next day, then do the daily 25%. That's just my thought on it, I'm sure someone else has a different opinion on the matter.

 

[Aqua Tom]

IMO, it's best to do water changes to decrease ammonia and nitrite spikes. The benefit to it is it will also help with fungal and bacterial issues. Me personally, I would always do the water changes first, sort out the levels, then medicate if absolutely necessary. To treat fungal and bacterial infection, I always suggest to do an initial 50% water change, then daily 25% for about 10 days then 50% weekly as your regular maintenance. When ammonia or nitrite present, the initial water change should be 75%, followed by a 50% the next day, then do the daily 25%. That's just my thought on it, I'm sure someone else has a different opinion on the matter.

+1, water change first then add meds.


Tom