Ammonia Levels At 1.0ppm Despite Regular Water Changes

[rdd1952]

I found this on the API website but it still isn't completely clear to me exactly how it works. I have sent an email to API requesting an explanation of how it works and whether the product will inhibit the cyclng process.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

I found this on the API website but it still isn't completely clear to me exactly how it works. I have sent an email to API requesting an explanation of how it works and whether the product will inhibit the cyclng process.

not the best explanation is it tbh, just seems to be almost slagging off other products

 

[MHunt]

From that article i read that the ammonia is not actually changed, hence why you can still register it on a test kit, but the Ammo-Lock protects the fish against it's harmful effects. But the ammonia is still available for the nitrifying bacteria to consume, allowing the cycle to continue. I just wonder what happens when the nitrite stage kicks in, are the effects of that neutralised in the same way?

I found this on the API website but it still isn't completely clear to me exactly how it works. I have sent an email to API requesting an explanation of how it works and whether the product will inhibit the cycling process.

I found it quite amusing that they had a couple of theories in that article as to how it worked, but they didn't actually appear to know! They just knew the effect, not the cause.

 

[heathm_wa]

Well I eased up the feedings by quite a bit and maintained the water changes. I'm getting a new test kit for Ammo tomorrow. The Ammonia levels have dropped a bit .. not zero but a bit. All my fish are still acting very active, playful so hopefully something is going right.

Thankyou all for your help

 

[rdd1952]

It took a while but I just got a reply to the email I sent API about Ammo-Lock. The respondent did apologize for the slow reply saying they were backed up due to the busy pond season. Below is the jist of what he said:

"The process to lock ammonia up is a trade secret but I can tell you that it will not affect the development of your biological filter. The addition of the product simple prevents the ammonia from interacting in a toxic manner towards your fish. You can still test it with test kits and it is available and readily processed into nitrite by your establishing bacteria."

So using Ammo-Lock should not impede the tank from cycling. I did reply back to ask 2 more questions:

1) How long does the ammonia stay locked? That is, does the effect wear off after a period of time and the ammonia becomes toxic again.

2) Does it work on ammonia that develops after it is added or only on what is present? In other words, if you add it to a tank, it will obviously lock the ammonia that is currently present but does it have an effect on ammonia produced by the fish later on.

As soon as I hear back, I will post that response.