I was doing the right thing by letting my water "aerate" for 24 hours to gas off chlorine prior to a water change but i THINK i may have killed some bacteria during the change: I forgot to add water conditioner to one of the pails that i poured into the filter to re-prime it as I was filling back up and turning it on. I was so intent on heating up the water to the mid 70's in each pail that I totally forgot about the conditioner. I DID of course add conditioner to the tank as I was filling but that water that went straight into the filter was unconditioned, I THINK.. I actually dont remember if i conditioned it or not.
Anyway with the possibility of having chloramines (ammonia+cholorine?) go right into that filter sponge, am I killing off bacteria instantly? Will the cycle have to start over again? I am 3.5 weeks into the cycle and it will suck if i killed off my colonies.
I had some pretty high nitrite the week before, not much ammonia, and this event took place during a 60% (fishy cycle too) water change. What worries me is that my tests are showing 0 nitrite now (becuase of the water change maybe or prime?), 0 ammonia, and NO nitrate at all. Im thinking that I either killed off lots of bacteria or I am almost done with the cycle.
Please help me with some advice, thanks.
Chris
Anyway with the possibility of having chloramines (ammonia+cholorine?) go right into that filter sponge, am I killing off bacteria instantly? Will the cycle have to start over again? I am 3.5 weeks into the cycle and it will suck if i killed off my colonies.
I had some pretty high nitrite the week before, not much ammonia, and this event took place during a 60% (fishy cycle too) water change. What worries me is that my tests are showing 0 nitrite now (becuase of the water change maybe or prime?), 0 ammonia, and NO nitrate at all. Im thinking that I either killed off lots of bacteria or I am almost done with the cycle.
Please help me with some advice, thanks.
Chris
