ammonia

jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Ok folks my ammonia is threw the roof! Specs 29 gal, sand bottom, dead sand w handful from established sand bed. Hob filter w cartridge from established tank.
My though was the bacteria in filter media would be plenty to minimize a cycle. Not so lol
any ideas? The tank is fishless
 
Bryce E

Bryce E

Active Member
When you say dead sand. Do you mean clean dry sand or do you mean dead sand that was previously used from another tank?
 
Bryce E

Bryce E

Active Member
Okay then. Well I wouldn't worry about it. you are just producing more ammonia then there is currently enough bacteria to combat it. Even with clean dry sand it may certainly contain organics that are going to break down in the water. So yeah it will just take a little time. Once the bacteria catches up then you're ammonia is going to drop then you are going to have the exact same issue again but with nitrites... then after some time that will drop to zero as well then you'll have a bunch of nitrates to be removed from the system via water changes . No worries here... all apart of the process on a new tank.
 
Bryce E

Bryce E

Active Member
Nope. I just did the same thing and it took forever. Sucks because the hobby requires patience which is something I've always lacked. But the filter is sure to speed up the process, there's no doubt.
 
Bryce E

Bryce E

Active Member
Would you be using live rock from one of your existing tanks or buying some from a store? or ordering some online?

If your live rock is aged and established and contains small stars, feather dusters, pods etc... then yeah I'd wait till you are done with the nitrite cycle. But the one thing that you don't have to worry about dying off is the bacteria on the rock. It will seed the rest of the tank just as you're doing with your filter.

If the rock isn't established enough for you to worry about losing worms, pods etc... but it has been in an existing tank then you don't need to wait at all. it will actually speed up the process as live rock is probably the largest bio filter in your tank. If you are going to buy a bunch of live rock for the new tank and the rock experiences any kind of die off before it arrives then just be prepared for the cycle to start all over again once you add the rock to your tank. Since you will essentially be adding a bunch of decomposing organics.
 
Bryce E

Bryce E

Active Member
Same with dry rock... if that's the route you're going to go then you want it in your tank now going through the cycle that you're currently undergoing.
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
It could go either way. I get excellent cured rock from a lfs, but this is an upgrade so the 40lbs of rock fro my20 is going in at some point
 
Bryce E

Bryce E

Active Member
Okay yeah, then you'll be good to go. for sure. no recycle to deal with or anything like that. Totally up to you but if you added a ton of cured rock to that tank all at once then it may just wipe out the ammonia and nitrite really fast and be ready for business.
 
Bryce E

Bryce E

Active Member
But if you're in no rush then it will just run it's course. You do have to continue to provide the bacteria with food through the process though. "ghost feed the tank" so to speak so that there is a continuous small supply of ammonia to be broken down.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
jay0705 said:
Now does the macro feed on ammonia or is it nitrates?
Click to expand...
Actually yes.

plant life like macros actually prefer and will consume ammonia before nitrates. Just that in a mature system the aerobic bacteria is getting all the ammonia so the macros get the nitrates.

the how is they use the ammonia/nitrates (and other nutrients) plus carbon dioxide under light to produce growth and oxygen.
 
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