Will Ammo lock and Aquilibrium kill the bacteria that feed on ammonia and nitrites

[Martin]

I would appreciate any advice anyone can give me on the following
subject.

I've bought a new fish tank for my son for Christmas and am trying, at
short notice, to prepare it for the fish by getting the beneficial
bacteria started. At the moment the water is still showing very high
levels of ammonia and nitrites. I've got two products that are
supposed to reduce these levels, Ammo lock and Aqualibrium, but I'm
not sure if it would be best to use these or just do a water change
before I put the fish in their new tank together with the water from
the older , smaller tank. The reason that I am worried about using the
two products is that I wonder if they will permenantly remove the
ammonia and nitrite thus leaving the bacteria that are present with
nothing to feed on. In such circumstances would any bacteria that are
present die due to lack of food?

Thanks in advance.

Martin

[D&M]

If you're trying to start a new tank, would probably be a bad way of
starting it, removing the ammonia, etc. The tank would become dependant on
the chemical removal. Proper cycling would be the best way IMO.

"Martin" > wrote in message
om...
> I would appreciate any advice anyone can give me on the following
> subject.
>
> I've bought a new fish tank for my son for Christmas and am trying, at
> short notice, to prepare it for the fish by getting the beneficial
> bacteria started. At the moment the water is still showing very high
> levels of ammonia and nitrites. I've got two products that are
> supposed to reduce these levels, Ammo lock and Aqualibrium, but I'm
> not sure if it would be best to use these or just do a water change
> before I put the fish in their new tank together with the water from
> the older , smaller tank. The reason that I am worried about using the
> two products is that I wonder if they will permenantly remove the
> ammonia and nitrite thus leaving the bacteria that are present with
> nothing to feed on. In such circumstances would any bacteria that are
> present die due to lack of food?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Martin

[Marcus Fox]

"Martin" > wrote in message
om...
> I would appreciate any advice anyone can give me on the following
> subject.
>
> I've bought a new fish tank for my son for Christmas and am trying, at
> short notice, to prepare it for the fish by getting the beneficial
> bacteria started. At the moment the water is still showing very high
> levels of ammonia and nitrites. I've got two products that are
> supposed to reduce these levels, Ammo lock and Aqualibrium, but I'm
> not sure if it would be best to use these or just do a water change
> before I put the fish in their new tank together with the water from
> the older , smaller tank. The reason that I am worried about using the
> two products is that I wonder if they will permenantly remove the
> ammonia and nitrite thus leaving the bacteria that are present with
> nothing to feed on. In such circumstances would any bacteria that are
> present die due to lack of food?

How to quickly cycle the tank. Do a google search for "fishless cycling" and
look at the method used by Chris Cow. I don't know about Ammolock, but some
lock up the ammonia so that it can't be used by the bacteria. Some lock up
the ammonia so the bacteria can use it.

My opinion though, would be to start off with some new dechlorinated water
plus old tank water and then move over the filter and fish from the other
smaller tank. The older filter can handle it as the bioload would be the
same. You don't need to re-cycle with a new filter. What you do then is buy
a new filter that can handle the capacity of the new tank and run that in
conjunction with the old filter. After a few weeks or so, you can swap out
the old filter, and the biofilter in the new one should already be
established, this would soon grow to compensate for the loss of the old
filter. I think.

Marcus

[MartinOsirus]

>> I've bought a new fish tank for my son for Christmas and am trying, at
>> short notice, to prepare it for the fish by getting the beneficial
>> bacteria started

Just add some Biospira and the tank will be cycled in 24-48 hours and thats
that - no more fussing with it!

[Marksfish]

> How to quickly cycle the tank. Do a google search for "fishless cycling"
and
> look at the method used by Chris Cow. I don't know about Ammolock, but
some
> lock up the ammonia so that it can't be used by the bacteria. Some lock up
> the ammonia so the bacteria can use it.
>
Ammo lock binds up the ammonia to make it "safe" for fish but the bacteria
will still be able to break it down. Ammonia will also still show a presence
in any tests whilst this product is being used. I would only use these if I
had a sudden problem, certainly not during the cycling process.

Regards

Mark