[aquaman]

My original peramiters were before tank wipeout.

PH 6.8-7.0
Ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 0

Now my peramiters are.

PH 7.0-7.2 [up .40]
ammonia .25 [up .25]
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

I want to add my new fish today. Do you think i will be fine.

 

[Oldman]

Nope. You need to get the ammonia under control. What have you done to get the filter ready for fish?

 

[aquaman]

Running Seachem Purigen in the Canister. Going to buy some additional amonia chips this afternoon for the HOB.

 

[jrodriguez]

Do a water change and maybe tomorow

 

[aquaman]

My tank is stabilizing. Ammonia dropping, after water change and additional ammonia chips in HOB.

 

[Oldman]

I must say that ammo-chips are a terrible idea, Aquaman. They will prevent the biofilter from developing properly and the first hint that they are exhausted can easily be the need to replace all of your stock again. It is what you might call a tank wipeout caused by inappropriate control of ammonia chemically, rather than establishing a functioning biological filter.

 

[aspects]

agreed.
ammonia chips are a terrible addition to any filter regimen. not only are they unnecessary, but they are actually potentially harmful to your tank.

if your tank has ANY ammonia reading at all, it means your filter isnt properly cycled. once your filter is properly matured, it will handle the conversion of all ammonia in the tank. your best bet is to wait until your filter is ready to house more fish. until you have a constant ammonia reading of 0, you are not ready to add more fish.

 

[aquaman]

Did not think ammonia chips were bad. I figured the little ammonia I had in the tank had to do with all the stirring up of the gravel when I cleaned it. I think that was the problem because once I did two partial water changes the ammonia dropped.

 

[aspects]

ammonia chips in a matured filter are useless, as the BB in the filter media is capable of removing any ammonia from the tank. if you have any ammonia reading whatsoever, it means your filter is not fully matured, and needs to finish cycling.
if your filter is not fully matured, and you add ammonia chips, the ammonia chips are removing the ammonia before the bacteria can use it as a food source. this will stop your filter from ever fully maturing and render it incapable of handling the ammonia levels on its own.
the bacteria colonies in your filter grow only as large as their available food source (ammonia) dictates. if your ammonia chips are removing the food before the bacteria can feed on it, the colonies do not grow large enough to handle the actual amount of waste being produced my your stock.
also, ammonia chips (as well as carbon, and other chemical media) are only meantto be temporary. activated carbon is only active for 5-7 days, and i believe ammonia chips are active for only a month. after this time, not only is the media no longer being used, and taking up space in your filter where functional media could be, but it also runs thr eisk of leaching nitrates and other bad things back into your aquarium.

 

[aquaman]

Thank you.