Ammonia test strips
- Thread starter MaiaDee
- Start date
Many people say don't vacuum much to leave stuff for the ammonia bacteria to process but I tell people to vacuum because if your water is already reading with ammonia in it there isn't any point in leaving more in it (of course I could be wrong) just don't go crazy if you're doing multiple water changes a day. Don't make it completely spotless. It is definitely fine to do as many water changes as makes you comfortable. Just match the temp and treat it and it is fine because fish love clean water XD
You are more than welcome to do a couple water changes a day just remember this. When using prime it neutralizes the ammonia but will still show up on an ammonia test and you also don't want to do enough water changes to remove all ammonia because you do still need stuff for the ammonia bacteria to process.
Dont worry too much, you're doing fine. After I did my research I did lose a fish or two even doing water changes and dosing prime so it can happen but everything will work out soon
OK. I've dose with Prime, so it's not toxic and I should calm down :chillpill:. I started this tank totally wrong and I feel really bad about it...I should have educated myself more.
I'll leave them be for now and do another change in the morning. BTW: is it possible to OD with Prime?
I'll leave them be for now and do another change in the morning. BTW: is it possible to OD with Prime?
First off, I understand how you feel completely. I felt the same way when I came here asking members to help me set it right. You are definitely on the right track.
As far as overdoing it with prime, the bottle says it can be dosed up to 5x every 24 hours so of course you could but as long as you're diligent in your measuring you're fine. For ammonia I think I dosed around 3x and when my nitrite shot up I dosed 5x regular dose for the rest of the cycle so there was a month of constant prime use along with other chemicals that did the same thing prime did until I realized I only needed prime so definitely don't worry about that.
Guess I coulda read my bottle, huh? Thanks again. The water is crystal clear, so I'm going to distract myself with trying to figure out how decently photograph the little buggers.
Keep your fingers crossed for us that the water parameters come into line soon or I'll have to put myself on anti-anxiety meds!
Keep your fingers crossed for us that the water parameters come into line soon or I'll have to put myself on anti-anxiety meds!
prime actually chemically attaches H+ to NH3 turning it into NH4(ammonium) NH3+NH4= total ammonia..ammonium is less toxic than ammonia
pH also has much to do with toxicity of ammonia.. in acidic environment NH3 is naturally transformed into NH4 via free H attaching in the acidic environment.
the reverse happens in high pH which will lend to higher toxicitiy of ammonia in higher pH water.
IE: I raise Altum Angels in very acidic water (ph lower than 6) ammonia was never an issue and the bacteria population eventually adjusted for acidic environement..again ammonia(NH3) is less toxic in the low pH as it is readuly transformed into Ammonium(NH4)
your friend in any situation where NH3/NH4 and or NO2 are a concern is...Water changes...water changes will have little effect on the BB population as
pH also has much to do with toxicity of ammonia.. in acidic environment NH3 is naturally transformed into NH4 via free H attaching in the acidic environment.
the reverse happens in high pH which will lend to higher toxicitiy of ammonia in higher pH water.
IE: I raise Altum Angels in very acidic water (ph lower than 6) ammonia was never an issue and the bacteria population eventually adjusted for acidic environement..again ammonia(NH3) is less toxic in the low pH as it is readuly transformed into Ammonium(NH4)
your friend in any situation where NH3/NH4 and or NO2 are a concern is...Water changes...water changes will have little effect on the BB population as
Yikes. I have a fish in obvious distress. Did a water change, he still looks like he's about to go...is there anything I can do??
I completely agree with Star...while I really like Prime and it is a good product when it comes to emergencies, water changes are much more trustworthy IMHO.
There isn't much more you can do than monitor the individual and keep that ammonia as low as possible.
:cry: I hate losing fish! I tend to get attached too quickly. Poor lil dude. And I feel terrible cuz he shouldn't even be in there to begin with if I'd done this right from the get go. Sad.
