Bacteria Enhancers, Yay Or Nay?

[gazb5590]

Had a 140 litre tank now for around 2 months but I was on the latter end of the nitrite stage of the nitrogen cycle but done a massive water change which somehow led to high ammonia and no nitrite and nitrate. since then I have do another water change a few days ago (around 95-98%) and I now have no ammonia, nitrite or nitrate in the water so was wondering what to do to kick start the cycle over again and if anyone's had any luck with filter boosters / bacteria enhancers has I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about if they're any good or not.
Any advice for cycling a tank is welcome

 

[eaglesaquarium]

When you did the water change, did you do anything with the filter? Did you remember to add dechlorinator to the water before putting it into the tank?


Second, doing a massive water change can pause a cycle. Its possible that's what happened. BUT, that may not be the case. Can you provide any more information about exactly what you did during the water change?

I'm not a big fan of the bacterial additives, but won't tell you not to use them.

 

[Zikofski]

Had a 140 litre tank now for around 2 months but I was on the latter end of the nitrite stage of the nitrogen cycle but done a massive water change which somehow led to high ammonia and no nitrite and nitrate. since then I have do another water change a few days ago (around 95-98%) and I now have no ammonia, nitrite or nitrate in the water so was wondering what to do to kick start the cycle over again and if anyone's had any luck with filter boosters / bacteria enhancers has I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about if they're any good or not.
Any advice for cycling a tank is welcome

I'm no expert with cycling but i used API Stress Zyme+ i used that for first 2/ 3 weeks it states to use it week after week during water changes but i don't bother now just to kick start the aquarium worked for me i guess plus what test kit are you using, with the API mater test kit i was getting false 0 on the nitrate, excessive shaking of bottle number 2 may help

 

[eaglesaquarium]

with the API mater test kit i was getting false 0 on the nitrate, excessive shaking of bottle number 2 may help

+1

 

[gazb5590]

I'm no expert with cycling but i used API Stress Zyme+ i used that for first 2/ 3 weeks it states to use it week after week during water changes but i don't bother now just to kick start the aquarium worked for me i guess plus what test kit are you using, with the API mater test kit i was getting false 0 on the nitrate, excessive shaking of bottle number 2 may help

I'm using API tests. At 1 point I got a nitrate reading of around 80ppm but that was before I messed the cycle up and since starting from scratch I'm still only getting readings of 0ppm. As things stand now I've not got a clue what stage of the cycle my tank's at

 

[gazb5590]

When you did the water change, did you do anything with the filter? Did you remember to add dechlorinator to the water before putting it into the tank?


Second, doing a massive water change can pause a cycle. Its possible that's what happened. BUT, that may not be the case. Can you provide any more information about exactly what you did during the water change?

I'm not a big fan of the bacterial additives, but won't tell you not to use them.

The person helping me washed 1 of the sponge filters in tap water but I've got 2 filters running both with 2 different types of sponge filtration including 1 with activated carbon. I've never put water in the tank straight from the tap but I did let some water settle in a barrel outside for a week before adding it and I used some amquel+ to dechlorinate the water. Also I reorganised the tank and added a few new ornaments (etc.)

 

[Zikofski]

I'm no expert with cycling but i used API Stress Zyme+ i used that for first 2/ 3 weeks it states to use it week after week during water changes but i don't bother now just to kick start the aquarium worked for me i guess plus what test kit are you using, with the API mater test kit i was getting false 0 on the nitrate, excessive shaking of bottle number 2 may help

I'm using API tests. At 1 point I got a nitrate reading of around 80ppm but that was before I messed the cycle up and since starting from scratch I'm still only getting readings of 0ppm. As things stand now I've not got a clue what stage of the cycle my tank's at

hmm okay it confused me getting all 0 on my tests when i had like 6 fish in for 2 months was confusing, hmm maybe checking the API stress zyme+ may work I'm not sure most people don't like using it but i used it and helped in my eyes, it dose not cost much, it says it is safe for all fish and aquatic life and contains millions of bacteria for the filter i poored it into and around the filter , try shaking the nitrate bottles allot to see if that dose change anything

I'm sure people will say i did it wrong and don't touch it but if it dosnt hurt the fish why not try

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The person helping me washed 1 of the sponge filters in tap water

OUCH! That pretty much explains why it would spike rapidly. While you have two filters running, there is no guarantee which one is actually getting more bacteria growth in it. Since there are two different set-ups and different sponges, it is possible that one is more conducive to growth than the other.

but I've got 2 filters running both with 2 different types of sponge filtration including 1 with activated carbon. I've never put water in the tank straight from the tap but I did let some water settle in a barrel outside for a week before adding it and I used some amquel+ to dechlorinate the water. Also I reorganised the tank and added a few new ornaments (etc.)

I would say that the reorganization didn't matter. This requires some patience. It will bounce back, but it will take some time. Patience is the key. (Unless of course you can get some mature media donated to you. )

 

[gazb5590]

The person helping me washed 1 of the sponge filters in tap water

OUCH! That pretty much explains why it would spike rapidly. While you have two filters running, there is no guarantee which one is actually getting more bacteria growth in it. Since there are two different set-ups and different sponges, it is possible that one is more conducive to growth than the other.

but I've got 2 filters running both with 2 different types of sponge filtration including 1 with activated carbon. I've never put water in the tank straight from the tap but I did let some water settle in a barrel outside for a week before adding it and I used some amquel+ to dechlorinate the water. Also I reorganised the tank and added a few new ornaments (etc.)

I would say that the reorganization didn't matter. This requires some patience. It will bounce back, but it will take some time. Patience is the key. (Unless of course you can get some mature media donated to you. )

Am glad that explains why the ammonia suddenly went from 0ppm to 1ppm and the nitrite and nitrate went from 1ppm & 40ppm to 0ppm on both tests. I'm not going to add any more fish now though until the tank has cycled. Just a bit confused at the minute though as I'm getting 0ppm on all 3 tests (done the water change around 3 days ago).

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Well, the 0ppm is what would be expected for ammonia and nitrite. The 0ppm nitrate is probably a bit of a false reading. First, the nitrate levels will be very low after all the water changes recently, especially since they have been massive in size. Second, the nitrate test from API is notoriously tricky. So, unless you are really shaking the living crap out of the reagent bottle #2, then you probably aren't getting as high a result as it should be. And so with very low levels, the false low is reading as a zero. Just keep checking and things will normalize quickly.

How many fish? Any live plants?

 

[gazb5590]

Well, the 0ppm is what would be expected for ammonia and nitrite. The 0ppm nitrate is probably a bit of a false reading. First, the nitrate levels will be very low after all the water changes recently, especially since they have been massive in size. Second, the nitrate test from API is notoriously tricky. So, unless you are really shaking the living crap out of the reagent bottle #2, then you probably aren't getting as high a result as it should be. And so with very low levels, the false low is reading as a zero. Just keep checking and things will normalize quickly.

How many fish? Any live plants?

Thanks for the advice. Going to do another nitrate test tomorrow and shake it properly. And I've got a few live plants in there but not added anymore as half of the 1s I had have died off and the fish in the tank are 4 glowlight tetras, 4 neon tetras, 6 yo-yo loaches, 1 male betta, 1 female betta, 1 female crowntail betta, 4 african dwarf frogs, 2 steel blue killifish, 1 rainbow shark and 1 L162 clown plec

 

[eaglesaquarium]

That's a sizable bioload. No wonder it spiked a bit. Good news is that it only spiked to 1ppm. The tank should rebound nicely, since the bacteria has been developed for a while. The OTHER sponges should take it over and multiply in a day or so (if they haven't already dealt with it. Ultimately, the bacteria should be able to handle things again. No worries. Just keep a close eye through New Year's and you'll be set as if nothing happened.

 

[gazb5590]

That's a sizable bioload. No wonder it spiked a bit. Good news is that it only spiked to 1ppm. The tank should rebound nicely, since the bacteria has been developed for a while. The OTHER sponges should take it over and multiply in a day or so (if they haven't already dealt with it. Ultimately, the bacteria should be able to handle things again. No worries. Just keep a close eye through New Year's and you'll be set as if nothing happened.

The ammonia spiked to 3ppm after a few days so that was when I done the massive 95+% water change. Everything seems ok at the moment though besides the betta's fins that I need to try sort out as soon as. I was just wondering if there's anything I can do to help the cycle get on its way or any treatments to aid the water conditions.

 

[Zikofski]

+1 on what eagle has said only stuff i use now is API stress coat+ and only used the API stress zyme+ to kick start the cycle process hope things are okay got a pic to show us?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

That's a sizable bioload. No wonder it spiked a bit. Good news is that it only spiked to 1ppm. The tank should rebound nicely, since the bacteria has been developed for a while. The OTHER sponges should take it over and multiply in a day or so (if they haven't already dealt with it. Ultimately, the bacteria should be able to handle things again. No worries. Just keep a close eye through New Year's and you'll be set as if nothing happened.

The ammonia spiked to 3ppm after a few days so that was when I done the massive 95+% water change. Everything seems ok at the moment though besides the betta's fins that I need to try sort out as soon as. I was just wondering if there's anything I can do to help the cycle get on its way or any treatments to aid the water conditions.

Yup, Stress Coat+ and water changes... The betta's fins are probably related to the ammonia. Just keep the water clean with lots of water changes, and the betta's fins will heal.