Bacteria blooms can vary in how long they last so if you can just wait it out a while longer it should clear up soon.
Starting Back Up Again...Questions About Using Seachem Stability
- Thread starter Kaskade10729
- Start date
Well I have no choice but to wait it out anyway, I suppose...
But I was under the impression, based on what I have read, that these should clear up in a couple of days on average.
Here's what Seachem told me last; can you add your thoughts/opinions?
If ammonia gets above 0.5 go ahead and do a 5 gallon water change. Otherwise, let things go as they are. Regarding ammonia spikes; sometimes it doesn't get particularly high if there's sufficient bacteria to keep concentration relatively low. Doing water changes while cycling will also keep it lower than if no water changes are done. The ammonia pad is also likely contributing.
Also:
The lack of nitrite tells me there are enough bacteria in there to process it as it's formed. As far as nitrate not increasing, that's probably due to your water changes.
I cannot offer you my experience regarding using Stability because I have never used that product. I will say that IF you see ammonia get to a 0.50 ppm level, I would change 5 gallons of water to get that number below 0.50 ppm.
It is possible the reason you are not seeing nitrite is as Seachem rep. says which is a good thing.
I am sorry you are having these issues with your new tank set up.
It is possible the reason you are not seeing nitrite is as Seachem rep. says which is a good thing.
I am sorry you are having these issues with your new tank set up.
Just tested it Dudley...
I don't know what this really proved, but the numbers were:
pH: Higher than 7.6
High Range pH: 8.0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
I don't know what this really proved, but the numbers were:
pH: Higher than 7.6
High Range pH: 8.0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
The reason for testing your tap water lets you know if you have ammonia from chloramine which is used by some local water authorities, nitrite, and nitrate which is common in agricultural areas. Since you didn't get a reading for ammonia, it's being produced in your aquarium and you aren't adding it back in via water changes.
I didn't even know that those elements were in some tap water supplies -- but when I do water changes, wouldn't the Prime get rid of all that anyway?
The usual tap water treatment is chlorine or chloramine for municipal water supplies though there may be some variations depending on location and time of year or during water line breaks or maintenance.
Prime temporarily binds ammonia for (I think) 48 hours to allow the ammonia using 'bacteria' to utilize it.
Prime temporarily binds ammonia for (I think) 48 hours to allow the ammonia using 'bacteria' to utilize it.
