Thanks,
Cat
Full Version: Bio Filters & Bacteria
I've heard a lot of talk on this forum about bio filters and "good" vs. "bad" bacteria. Can somebody please explain what these are, how they are related and what it is they do for my tank and fish? I'm somewhat new at all this tank stuff and am still learning the details...
Thanks,
Cat
Thanks,
Cat
Thanks, Fishbert. I had read over that before but didn't quite understand it. I think I've got it now: the "good" bacteria convert the ammonia and nitrites into nitrates. So when the ammonia and nitrites are no longer registering on the tests, then there's enough "good" bacteria in there to take care of them and that means the tank has cycled. Do I have it right?? 
My ammonia's been registering at about 2.75 for the past week or so. The Ph is good. I don't have a nitrate/nitrite test kit yet. Oliver appears to be doing fine.
He lived for a year in a one-gallon tank with NO filter, and me with NO knowledge of cycling, Ph, or any of that. He's a tough little guy. Hope he can make it through this cycling business.
My ammonia's been registering at about 2.75 for the past week or so. The Ph is good. I don't have a nitrate/nitrite test kit yet. Oliver appears to be doing fine.
He lived for a year in a one-gallon tank with NO filter, and me with NO knowledge of cycling, Ph, or any of that. He's a tough little guy. Hope he can make it through this cycling business.
Yep, you got the good bacteria right, Sybercat! With an ammonia reading like that, doing daily water changes to lower the ammonia is important for the health of your fish. Ammonia and nitrite are both lethal for a fish, some can stand more of it than others though. If you could get a water conditioner like Prime, that would help your fish as well.
What Prime does is convert the toxic ammonia into a non toxic version - it can't do as much damage to your fish, but is still available in the tank so that the bacteria can further develop and grow. Without ammonia no good bacteria can develop, thats why its so important to have ammonia in the tank during cycling. Kind of counterproductive, hm?
What Prime does is convert the toxic ammonia into a non toxic version - it can't do as much damage to your fish, but is still available in the tank so that the bacteria can further develop and grow. Without ammonia no good bacteria can develop, thats why its so important to have ammonia in the tank during cycling. Kind of counterproductive, hm?
So what is your pH and water temperature?
Oops, sorry, I haven't been on for a while and I just saw this!
The water is at room temperature, generally around 76 or so [I like to keep warm!]. The Ph is generally around 7.5 - 7.6. That's what the test kit recommends for goldfish, but that seems a little high relative to what I've seen on these forums.
The water is at room temperature, generally around 76 or so [I like to keep warm!]. The Ph is generally around 7.5 - 7.6. That's what the test kit recommends for goldfish, but that seems a little high relative to what I've seen on these forums.
Do you have an ammoina binder?
If your ammonia is still that high, you need to get it down ASAP.
With ph of 7.6, temp of 76 and 2.5ppm total ammonia, the levels are toxic. You really need to keep ammonia below 1ppm with partial water changes.
How's is your ammonia doing? Are you seeing nitrIte yet?
If your ammonia is still that high, you need to get it down ASAP.
With ph of 7.6, temp of 76 and 2.5ppm total ammonia, the levels are toxic. You really need to keep ammonia below 1ppm with partial water changes.
How's is your ammonia doing? Are you seeing nitrIte yet?
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