Ammonia Remover

[sic0198]

If I use ammonia remover in my tank will my cycle still build up?

 

[lyotim88]

If I use ammonia remover in my tank will my cycle still build up?

There should be no reason to use ammonia remover. I believe it will delay the cycle

 

[sic0198]

My reasons are I'm gonna have to tear my tank down (to move it) after I do it, I will then reset it back up. I don't think I can keep the cycle. I need something to make it less stressful on my fish.

I hace a 29 gallon with an angelfish, bristlenosed pleco, 4 corys, fem. betta and 7 or 8 little tetras (2 types but I don't know what they are specificaqlly). The angwl is what I'm worried about.

 

[lyotim88]

as long as you keep the filter media in aquarium water you should have no problems. In fact the fish will appreciate the huge waterchange. I've done it while transferring my 20 gal to a 30gal and all of my fish survived it.

 

[rdd1952]

If you start using an ammonia removal agent, you tank will never cycle as there will be no food for the bacteria to consume. Basically, you will be tied to that type removal forever.

How far are you planning to move the tank and how long do you thinnk it will take? Nitrifying bacteria only die off at a rate of about 3 to 12 percent a day, depending on which articles you read. Even a 2 day move would still leave you with over half your bacteria as long as you keep the media wet in a bucket or something.

 

[fatheadminnow]

If I use ammonia remover in my tank will my cycle still build up?

Do not use any sort of ammonia remover. The beneficial bacteria that colonize/live in your filter need ammonia to live, and if you take away their food source(ammonia) they can die off, and that would be bad.

If you are cycling your tank and you use ammoina remover, that will stall your cycle.

What type of ammoina remover were you planning on using?

-FHM

If you start using an ammonia removal agent, you tank will never cycle as there will be no food for the bacteria to consume. Basically, you will be tied to that type removal forever.

How far are you planning to move the tank and how long do you thinnk it will take? Nitrifying bacteria only die off at a rate of about 3 to 12 percent a day, depending on which articles you read. Even a 2 day move would still leave you with over half your bacteria as long as you keep the media wet in a bucket or something.

Darn...you beat me to it. If only I could type faster...lol

 

[sic0198]

API Ammo Lock.

But I'll try to put my filter pad in a bucket with tank water. When I refill my tank I can just squeeze the pad into the water and replace the filter pad, correct?

 

[fatheadminnow]

API Ammo Lock.

But I'll try to put my filter pad in a bucket with tank water. When I refill my tank I can just squeeze the pad into the water and replace the filter pad, correct?

I would not replace the filter pad.

A filter pad should only be replaced if it is falling apart...or if the surface area has decreased so much that the bacteria cannot live in the numbers they have before.

When you take the filter pad out, put it in bucket of water or bag of water during transport, and throw some fish food in there. the fish food will break down and produce ammonia for the bacteria that have colonized on it.

Autotrophic bacteria do not live in the water, but in the filter and on some decor/substrate. But about 99% of the bacteria live on the filter pad. So squeezing the filter pad into the new tank water would do barely nothing.

Just keep on using the filter pad until it is not physically capable of hold bacteria efficiently.

A good mature filter pad will have a brown color to it...that is what you want.

-FHM

 

[rdd1952]

Ammo-Lock is fine. It's no an ammonia remover. It just locks it into a non-toxic form (ammonium) that is harmless to fish.

Are you moving the tank across the room or across town? In either case, if you will have the tank set back up and running again in 24 hours you have nothing to worry about from the filter stand point. Just put it back on the tank and turn it on. No use to squeeze it or change pads. As mentioned, the bacteria are on the filter not in the water. You can change 100% of the water and not have any effect on the bacteria (as long as you dechlorinate which Ammo-Lock also does).

What are you planning to do with the fish while you are moving it? They would be a bigger concern if they will be out of the tank without the benifit of a filter for an extended period. In 24 hours the ammonia in a small bucket storage bin could build up pretty high.

 

[sic0198]

The tank will be move to my room, not too far. The fish will go temporarily into a bucket, I'll put tank water in the bucket. Also I( will pit the media into a bucket with tankwater.

 

[fatheadminnow]

The tank will be move to my room, not too far. The fish will go temporarily into a bucket, I'll put tank water in the bucket. Also I( will pit the media into a bucket with tankwater.

Sounds like a plan to me!

And keep using the same filter pad.
-FHM

 

[rdd1952]

You really shouldn't have any problems at all and certainly not an issue with losing your bacteria colony.

 

[waterdrop]

Agree, your bacteria should be fine through a move like this.

~~waterdrop~~