how to handle ammonia in QT

[Neptune 555]

How do you manage ammonia in a QT tank?

Can I add amquel to manage the ammonia? Hoping my LFS has this product?

Currently I have 2 clowns in QT for 3 days. The ammonia alert badge is reading between safe and alert... .02 - .05. I am making more water but with my system that takes time...

I am picking up a puffer fish and a BSJ today. I assume they will raise the ammonia? I thought b/c I seeded my QT tanks with the filter pad from my DT that I would not get ammonia spikes?

Neptune

 

[Spar]

AmQuel or Prime or similar product will help out until the bacteria takes over the deed. Large consistent (maybe even daily for a while) waterchanges also.

By "QT", what do you mean though? Is this just an observation tank? If adding copper products you will NOT want to use AmQuel or Prime. If doing observation, hypo or tank transfer method QT options then you are ok using it daily if needed.

adding a new fish will likely cause at least a temp spike of ammonia since more waste will be present that you don't currently have the bacteria population to support.

just keep an eye out on ammonia; test daily for a few days, and if the seeded filter pad works out for you, you will know pretty soon if you don't see ammonia creeping up after a few days to a week. the ammonia badge is a great idea!

 

[EllieSuz]

If you already have any amount of ammonia in the QT, I certainly wouldn't advise adding any more fish. You're asking to lose all of them. Frequent water changes are the best route. Tell your LFS you have to hold off on bringing the new fish home.

 

[MrTuskfish]

If you already have any amount of ammonia in the QT, I certainly wouldn't advise adding any more fish. You're asking to lose all of them. Frequent water changes are the best route. Tell your LFS you have to hold off on bringing the new fish home.

Good advice. Don'r rush stocking your tank, there are a zillion pitfalls to doing so.

 

[Neptune 555]

How do you ever get a Qt tank not to have ammonia? I set these up to observe my fish b/4 going into DT... I used filter pad from existing DT. I am surprised also to have ammonia b/c I am using DT filter?

Neptune

 

[Neptune 555]

and I thought you could use amquel w/ cupramine? Snorvich? But for now I am only placing my fish in QT to observe. Then after a week if they are eating and look fine I will treat them with prazipro... if they show disease of some sort depending on what they have I will treat accordingly

Neptune

 

[Spar]

How do you ever get a Qt tank not to have ammonia? I set these up to observe my fish b/4 going into DT... I used filter pad from existing DT. I am surprised also to have ammonia b/c I am using DT filter?

Neptune

how long do you let the filter pads seed before using them? usual recommendation is at last 4 weeks. i used an air filter sponge that was seeded for a month and still fought with ammonia. may just be that whatever bacteria is on the filter pad/sponge, you have more bioload than it can handle.

you could also go buy some of the bacteria-in-a-bottle stuff. that could very likely give you the boost you need to get your bacteria colony to be at the supporting level you need.

 

[Deinonych]

you could also go buy some of the bacteria-in-a-bottle stuff. that could very likely give you the boost you need to get your bacteria colony to be at the supporting level you need.

+1

I use Bio-spira to seed the biofilter in a pinch. Works quite well. Note that you may need to re-seed if you run any antibiotic treatments.

 

[Spar]

+1

I use Bio-spira to seed the biofilter in a pinch. Works quite well. Note that you may need to re-seed if you run any antibiotic treatments.

which includes Prazi, right? i only learned that recently... figured that was part of why my ammonia stayed longer than should have (was doing Prazi).

 

[Deinonych]

I don't think prazi directly affects the bio-filter...at least, I've never experienced any impact to it. I could be wrong though.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Prazi is not an antibiotic and it does not harm the biological filter. How big is the QT?

 

[Neptune 555]

I have a 20 gallon QT running a new penquin 150 filter with 1/2 the filter pad from my DT. The filter pad is weeks old... I have 2 percula clowns in the tank now. I will be adding a Valentini puffer 2-nite if he is healthy. The LFS is holding him for me.

I also have a 10 gallon QT running with the other 1/2 of my filter pad from my DT. I plan to place a BSJ in this tank with live sand in a bowl.

I am a tad confused.. what is the difference between Bio SPira and Amquel? I am hoping my LFS has Bio-spira as they are holding two fish for me today. I will start making more water now for the subsequent water changes argghh. My water is two floors down from my QT tanks... in my work office. Next time I might just keep the QTs in the basement also. I wanted to be able to watch my new baby fish so keeping them in my office seemed a good choice. Now I am re-thinking that!



Neptune

 

[Allmost]

na put the QT in least visited area of the house ... give the fish some time alone to adapt.

amquel or Prime are ammonia detoxifier. bio spira is bacteria, which eat ammonia and poop nitrite.