Nitrosomonas Bacteria???

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Brackman

Brackman
May 23, 2006
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Vancouver, Canada
I have had some problems with my 100 gallon brackish set up since moving last month...Extremely high ammonia! The tank was cycled fully and properly but something went wrong during the move. Does anyone know if very high levels of ammonia can kill off the nitrosomonas bacteria or how to get the bacteria strong enough to eat up the NH3...This is not Ammonium NH4 either it is Ammonia NH3, so I have a big problem that I have never had to deal with ever! I have heard if the levels of ammonia are too high that the bacteria will never get strong enough to eat it up...Is this true??? I have never had such high ammonia...Will the bacteria strengthen in time even if the ammonia is this high?

Thank you for any help! :huh:
 
Brackman said:
I have heard if the levels of ammonia are too high that the bacteria will never get strong enough to eat it up...Is this true??? I have never had such high ammonia...
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I suppose it is possible.

If you want immediate relief, you could drop a big bad of activated carbon or some ammonia-specific media in there and direct some flow over/through it.

What reading is your test kit giving you?
 
Yes, high ammonia will kill off the bacteria. How brackish is the tank?

I advise that you post your problem in the brackish forum as well. Depending on your salinity you may need help re: salt water bacteria and not fresh water.

The best way to get rid of the NH3 is to waterchange it out as much as possible and keep doing water changes until your readings are 0.

This may not be practical for you, however, as you've given no indication as to how you do water changes nor what the actual levels in the tank are. Again, you may need salt water help here.

Could you also post your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH readings?

Roan
 
High ammonia levels are very corrosive but your fish would be dead long before they affect your bacteria. Keep on top of those waterchanges though since ammonia poisoning is irreversable once the damage is done.
 
If the fish do not die from ammonia poisoning, what signs can I look for that there has been permanent damage done to the fish...Ive never delt with ammonia poisoning in the 8 years I ve kept fish....

The ammonia is really high at around 4.5 ppm, nitrites 0, nitrates 10

I have moved the fish from this tank except a few mollies. I am just worried about the time the fish were exposed to this high ammonia...
 
Your fish will start to gasp and hang out in corners. They will be very lethargic and loose interest in feeding. While the damage is not reversable, taking good care of them and treating the water with Prime to bind up the ammonia is the way to go while you reestablish the cycle. I would buy a packet of freshwater bacteria and saltwater bacteria (bio-spira) and add both to the tank to hopefully restart the cycle. Get a seachem ammonia alert card so that you have an idea of (NH3 form) ammonia levels 24/7. Test nitrites very vigilently because that is what your major worry is now that your fish have been damaged by the ammonia.

I recently underwent a biofilter crash and due to dillegent waterchanges, I did not loose a single fish. My fish went from chronic gasping and no interest in food what so ever to a full recovery with all the ammonia damage healed and are now back to their old active chronically hungry selves. Search for my "Fish Day from Hell Post" where I outline exactly what I did to keep my fish alive.
 
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