Ammo-Chips in planted tank filter

knownothingfishowner · 11-27-2010, 12:12 AM

Had a nitrate problem last week, killing one platy with dropsy. Put in some ammo-chips to bring ammonia, thus nitrate down, and everything was back to normal levels. But, the hornwort started appearing a little more "sparse" and the java moss started forming a few small brown strings on top.

Think the ammo-chips is affecting the plants?

jrman83 · 11-27-2010, 05:01 PM

Ammonia problem, or nitrate problem?

Never used them. Does the label say it will hurt plants? The brown strings sounds like some form of algae.

knownothingfishowner · 11-27-2010, 07:02 PM

It was a nitrate problem. But, for some reason, whenever I've used ammo-chips in the past, it knocked the nitrate down next to nothing. I guess it absorbs it as well, even though the label doesn't mention it.

I don't know. My tank's all over the place.

jrman83 · 11-27-2010, 07:10 PM

If it is all over the place, maybe you should do a series of water changes and check your filter and make sure it if flowing properly. If your Fluval has a polishing filter in it they will get nasty fast and impede flow...my experience with my FX5 anyway.

knownothingfishowner · 11-28-2010, 05:56 PM

I'm just being impatient - that's all it is. Chances are I'm in mid-cycle and I don't want to keep screwing with water changes every other day.

Origin, I would guess, is due to a nasty ich outbreak a couple months ago where salt and heat really weren't an option, so I gave it the Kordon knockout which most likely wiped the biomass clean of proper bacteria. With all the fish I have in there (see signature) I'm sure that's got levels fluctuating all over the place.

So, I guess I'm going to have to accept it and do the water changes until everything stabilizes.

jrman83 · 11-28-2010, 06:25 PM

If the tank is still trying to cycle, I'd stop using chemicals to include ammo chips. They only delay completion of the cycle.

11-27-2010, 12:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
knownothingfishowner Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 102 Location: Greensburg, IN Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	Ammo-Chips in planted tank filter Had a nitrate problem last week, killing one platy with dropsy. Put in some ammo-chips to bring ammonia, thus nitrate down, and everything was back to normal levels. But, the hornwort started appearing a little more "sparse" and the java moss started forming a few small brown strings on top. Think the ammo-chips is affecting the plants? __________________ 55 Gallon/Fluval 405/216W Corallife Over 20 platies - mostly babies hiding in java moss 2 Gold Dojo Loaches 2 Striped Tetras 3 Otos 1 Bushy Nose Pleco Java Fern Java Moss Amazon Sword Last edited by knownothingfishowner : 11-27-2010 at 08:57 AM.

11-27-2010, 05:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,463 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,382 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: Ammo-Chips in planted tank filter Ammonia problem, or nitrate problem? Never used them. Does the label say it will hurt plants? The brown strings sounds like some form of algae.

11-27-2010, 07:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
knownothingfishowner Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 102 Location: Greensburg, IN Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Ammo-Chips in planted tank filter It was a nitrate problem. But, for some reason, whenever I've used ammo-chips in the past, it knocked the nitrate down next to nothing. I guess it absorbs it as well, even though the label doesn't mention it. I don't know. My tank's all over the place. __________________ 55 Gallon/Fluval 405/216W Corallife Over 20 platies - mostly babies hiding in java moss 2 Gold Dojo Loaches 2 Striped Tetras 3 Otos 1 Bushy Nose Pleco Java Fern Java Moss Amazon Sword

11-27-2010, 07:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,463 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,382 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: Ammo-Chips in planted tank filter If it is all over the place, maybe you should do a series of water changes and check your filter and make sure it if flowing properly. If your Fluval has a polishing filter in it they will get nasty fast and impede flow...my experience with my FX5 anyway.

11-28-2010, 05:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
knownothingfishowner Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 102 Location: Greensburg, IN Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Ammo-Chips in planted tank filter I'm just being impatient - that's all it is. Chances are I'm in mid-cycle and I don't want to keep screwing with water changes every other day. Origin, I would guess, is due to a nasty ich outbreak a couple months ago where salt and heat really weren't an option, so I gave it the Kordon knockout which most likely wiped the biomass clean of proper bacteria. With all the fish I have in there (see signature) I'm sure that's got levels fluctuating all over the place. So, I guess I'm going to have to accept it and do the water changes until everything stabilizes. __________________ 55 Gallon/Fluval 405/216W Corallife Over 20 platies - mostly babies hiding in java moss 2 Gold Dojo Loaches 2 Striped Tetras 3 Otos 1 Bushy Nose Pleco Java Fern Java Moss Amazon Sword

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11-28-2010, 06:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,463 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,382 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: Ammo-Chips in planted tank filter If the tank is still trying to cycle, I'd stop using chemicals to include ammo chips. They only delay completion of the cycle.

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