"BigBadGourami" wrote in message
news:_7XLb.16483$nt4.28348@attbi_s51...
Hi I have a question. My tank is about 3 months old. I went through
the
cycling and everything with a very small ammonia spike a large nitrite
spike
(10ppm). Anyways, my water consistently tests with nitrite at 0 and
ammonia
just barely detectable and nitrate less than 10ppm. I cannot seem to get
rid of the last bit of ammonia. My tap tested negative for chloramines.
The LFS recommends amquel. I asked him if it would starve my biological
filter. He said no that the ammonia would still be available for the
bacteria. I however am still doubtful. Do any of you know if amquel will
starve my biological filter? Can anyone tell me why my Nitrosomas are not
doing their job? I am wondering if it might be the pH. I believe I read
nitospira like high pH but nitrosomas do not. I recently raised the temp
from 78 to 85 because I have ich. I thought maybee the higher temp might
also induce growth of the nitrosomas but it had no affect.


Are you using a Salisylate based ammonia test? If you are using a Nessler
based ammonia test, the Amquel will cause a false ammonia presence.

Also, if a water supply has chloramines and you do the ammonia test
relatively soon after a partial water change, the test (Nessler or
Salisylate) will show ammonia presence. This doesn't apply if your water
only contains chlorine.

My water supply contains chloramines and I am using Amquel plus. I use the
Aq. Pharm Freshwater/Sal****er ammonia test kit. I get a zero ammonia
reading the next day after a partial water change.

Jim