Hi,
I am new to this forum, and a SW guy, and have become somewhat of a "sustainable" aquarist obsessed with finding the "perfectly balanced" aquarium ecosystem. I have this buddy who went from a 45g with 35 cichlids to a 100g with the same fish. He has so much decoration that i am not even sure he has not created "dead" pool, where water has very little chance to flow.
Now, he has started his new tank about 3 weeks ago, cycled it with AquaBella but at the same time been using Prime regularly, like every other day. Seems like it is defeating the purpose of using a bacterial product that's supposed to limit water change. So here is now, after 3 weeks calling me and asking me how come his test shows ammonia and his nitrate level are in the red? At first i could not figure it out, but now, i think i know, but can't be really really sure. So i have to ask:
- Would a regular use of prime inhibit bacterial growth?
- I have read that Prime and API water test kit don't work together and will show false reading. I'm researching this topic but if you know anything, please tell me (I have another Q about this, i'll ask in another post)
- Finally, even with the best bacterial product and considering his setting, wouldn't it be normal that the bacteria cannot keep up with that much organic matter?
Trust me, if you agree with me, i have told him. If you guys know better, please tell me. In my opinion, he needs a 175g to host that many cichlids and he needs to stop dosing his aquarium with prime ...
I am new to this forum, and a SW guy, and have become somewhat of a "sustainable" aquarist obsessed with finding the "perfectly balanced" aquarium ecosystem. I have this buddy who went from a 45g with 35 cichlids to a 100g with the same fish. He has so much decoration that i am not even sure he has not created "dead" pool, where water has very little chance to flow.
Now, he has started his new tank about 3 weeks ago, cycled it with AquaBella but at the same time been using Prime regularly, like every other day. Seems like it is defeating the purpose of using a bacterial product that's supposed to limit water change. So here is now, after 3 weeks calling me and asking me how come his test shows ammonia and his nitrate level are in the red? At first i could not figure it out, but now, i think i know, but can't be really really sure. So i have to ask:
- Would a regular use of prime inhibit bacterial growth?
- I have read that Prime and API water test kit don't work together and will show false reading. I'm researching this topic but if you know anything, please tell me (I have another Q about this, i'll ask in another post)
- Finally, even with the best bacterial product and considering his setting, wouldn't it be normal that the bacteria cannot keep up with that much organic matter?
Trust me, if you agree with me, i have told him. If you guys know better, please tell me. In my opinion, he needs a 175g to host that many cichlids and he needs to stop dosing his aquarium with prime ...