Ammolock and the biofilter

[BigBadGourami]

Hi I have a slight problem with ammonia in my tank. I can't seem to get rid
of the last traces of it. Combined with my high pH (8.2) I am worried that
it is causing alot of problems for my fish even at such low levels. I am
wondering about putting ammolock in the media baskets of my penguin 330. I
have heard conflicting opinions on this. Some say it will starve the
nitrosomas and subsequently the nitrospiras as no nitrite gets produced by
the nitrosomas. Others say it simply converts ammonia NH3 to harmless
ammonium ions NH4+ and it still still accessible to nitrosomas. What do you
guys think?

[BigBadGourami]

actually I meant ammo chips not ammo lock though I am considering both.
"BigBadGourami" > wrote in message
news:JFSSb.196721$xy6.1013263@attbi_s02...
> Hi I have a slight problem with ammonia in my tank. I can't seem to get
rid
> of the last traces of it. Combined with my high pH (8.2) I am worried
that
> it is causing alot of problems for my fish even at such low levels. I am
> wondering about putting ammolock in the media baskets of my penguin 330.
I
> have heard conflicting opinions on this. Some say it will starve the
> nitrosomas and subsequently the nitrospiras as no nitrite gets produced by
> the nitrosomas. Others say it simply converts ammonia NH3 to harmless
> ammonium ions NH4+ and it still still accessible to nitrosomas. What do
you
> guys think?
>
>

[NetMax]

AFAIK, Ammolock converts NH3 to NH4 (so no effect on your nitrogen
chain), but I suspect Ammo-chips (zeolite?) absorb the ammonia (which
would be disruptive to the bacteria). Wait till others confirm this
though.

I thought that ammonia is the easiest for plants & bacteria to consume,
so it's odd to have a perpetual low level. Either your source water has
ammonia (or chloramines), or your tank is running very close to operating
margin, or you filter servicing is incorrect, or the tester is wrong.
Test before your water change. A floating sprig of Hornwort might help.

NetMax

"BigBadGourami" > wrote in message
news:ybTSb.199173$na.330705@attbi_s04...
> actually I meant ammo chips not ammo lock though I am considering both.
> "BigBadGourami" > wrote in message
> news:JFSSb.196721$xy6.1013263@attbi_s02...
> > Hi I have a slight problem with ammonia in my tank. I can't seem to
get
> rid
> > of the last traces of it. Combined with my high pH (8.2) I am
worried
> that
> > it is causing alot of problems for my fish even at such low levels.
I am
> > wondering about putting ammolock in the media baskets of my penguin
330.
> I
> > have heard conflicting opinions on this. Some say it will starve the
> > nitrosomas and subsequently the nitrospiras as no nitrite gets
produced by
> > the nitrosomas. Others say it simply converts ammonia NH3 to
harmless
> > ammonium ions NH4+ and it still still accessible to nitrosomas. What
do
> you
> > guys think?
> >
> >
>
>

[BigBadGourami]

My tap tests negative for ammonia and the bioload seems to have no effect.
Ammonia tested very low [almost undetectable] well within what the test
claims is safe. It tested the same when I had only a couple fish and as I
added more it did not change. Most feel there is no safe level of ammonia
especially at pH 8.2. so I am looking for a preferably cheap chemical to
keep the last trace of ammonia harmless as ammonium ions so it won't starve
of the biofilter.

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> AFAIK, Ammolock converts NH3 to NH4 (so no effect on your nitrogen
> chain), but I suspect Ammo-chips (zeolite?) absorb the ammonia (which
> would be disruptive to the bacteria). Wait till others confirm this
> though.
>
> I thought that ammonia is the easiest for plants & bacteria to consume,
> so it's odd to have a perpetual low level. Either your source water has
> ammonia (or chloramines), or your tank is running very close to operating
> margin, or you filter servicing is incorrect, or the tester is wrong.
> Test before your water change. A floating sprig of Hornwort might help.
>
> NetMax
>
> "BigBadGourami" > wrote in message
> news:ybTSb.199173$na.330705@attbi_s04...
> > actually I meant ammo chips not ammo lock though I am considering both.
> > "BigBadGourami" > wrote in message
> > news:JFSSb.196721$xy6.1013263@attbi_s02...
> > > Hi I have a slight problem with ammonia in my tank. I can't seem to
> get
> > rid
> > > of the last traces of it. Combined with my high pH (8.2) I am
> worried
> > that
> > > it is causing alot of problems for my fish even at such low levels.
> I am
> > > wondering about putting ammolock in the media baskets of my penguin
> 330.
> > I
> > > have heard conflicting opinions on this. Some say it will starve the
> > > nitrosomas and subsequently the nitrospiras as no nitrite gets
> produced by
> > > the nitrosomas. Others say it simply converts ammonia NH3 to
> harmless
> > > ammonium ions NH4+ and it still still accessible to nitrosomas. What
> do
> > you
> > > guys think?
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>