Advice for growing good bacteria?

[Goldiegupp]

Hello all,

I was wanting suggestions on some different ways to grow some benificial bacteria in my tank because I have no live plants. I have a sponge filter running at full speed ahead during the day and turn it down a bit at night because it's so loud. I clean it once a week by squeezing it in tap water the same temp as my tank.
I need some good bacteria because I have an ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/chlorine/chloramine detoxifier at work, and that stuff needs good bacteria to eat it hee hee.

Any help would be appreciated

 

[OrangeCones]

I clean it once a week by squeezing it in tap water the same temp as my tank.

If you are rinsing the sponge in tap water, you are killing the beneficial bacteria each time you do that. You should only be rinsing it in old tank water (the water you are removing during a water change) if needed.

I need some good bacteria because I have an ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/chlorine/chloramine detoxifier at work, and that stuff needs good bacteria to eat it

What eats ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, chlorine and chloramine?

 

[rubbaducky92]

Also, try keeping your tank water over 80°F and try not to disturb the gravel too much during water changes. Use test strips to get an idea of what your nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia are at. If, and only if, you're doing a fishless cycle, you can add pure ammonia to the water until it's traceable on the test strips. Feeding the empty tank daily like you would with fish, also gives the bacteria something to consume. The ammonia will spike first, followed by nitrite, then nitrates. Remove nitrates via water change, refill with dechlorinated tap water, repeat.

Took me forever to figure this out but this is what's worked for me.

 

[Goldiegupp]

My ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/chloramine/chlorine detoxifying substance I am using. It doesn't LITERALLY EAT it but it converts it into a safer form. And I've heard good bacteria eat that safer form so thats why I need it. And I'm trying to get rid of ammonia cuz I have too much of it, not add more. And, hee well it happends I already have an established tank. 2 goldies in a 10 gallon and for the MILLIONTH time I AM planning on upgrading asap so don't yell at me please. Goldies don't like temps in the high 80s I thought?

 

[OrangeCones]

My ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/chloramine/chlorine detoxifying substance I am using.

I still have no idea what 'detoxifying substance' this is. Does it have a name?

A decent dechlorinator will remove chlorine and break the chlorine bond from chloramine, leaving you with ammonia. If you use a dechlorinator that also binds ammonia, then the ammonia is in a 'non-toxic' form.

From there, your beneficial bacteria will convert ammonia to nitrite, and nitrite to nitrate. You can do water changes to remove the nitrate when it gets to a level of 20.

And I'm trying to get rid of ammonia cuz I have too much of it, not add more.

More frequent water changes, gravel vacuuming, and feed less will help with your ammonia until you can upgrade. Always rinse your sponge in the water you are removing, NEVER in tap water.

Goldies don't like temps in the high 80s I thought?

I *think* they were referring to a fishless cycle, not to move your goldies to a temp in the 80s.

 

[Goldiegupp]

Its called Aquamel, sort of like Prime, prescribed to me by the fish store owner. And yes, I do frequent water changes, but I don't think the ammonia is from the tank itself and the fish in it but the water I am using from my sink because the ppl who purify the water use alot of chemicals harmful to fish. I had been using Aquasafe for my dechlorinator, which worked well for the chlorine, but that dang ammonia wouldn't get out of my tank no matter how many water changes I did. I make sure to NEVER overfeed, and vacuume the gravel frequently. I tried doing a bunch of water changes (10% every other day) to help take it out, but it wasn't working because I just put more water in from the sink that still had ammonia in it. And oh haha. Now I know

 

[OrangeCones]

Its called Aquamel, sort of like Prime, prescribed to me by the fish store owner.

Who makes Aquamel? Is it Kordon?

And yes, I do frequent water changes, but I don't think the ammonia is from the tank itself and the fish in it but the water I am using from my sink because the ppl who purify the water use alot of chemicals harmful to fish.

What ammonia reading do you get from your tap water after it sets out for 24 hours?

I tried doing a bunch of water changes (10% every other day) to help take it out, but it wasn't working because I just put more water in from the sink that still had ammonia in it.

What is your normal water change schedule like? How often, what percentage?

 

[Goldiegupp]

Woopsy sorry its not called Aquamel its called Amquel plus.

What ammonia reading do you get from your tap water after it sets out for 24 hours?

No idea. I shall do a test.

Normal water change schedual is 40% weekly including gravel vacuume and rinse sponge filter. Replace old water with sink water treated with Aquasafe.

 

[OrangeCones]

I believe you will find that your fish are the culprits of the ammonia, and not your tap water. If the two goldies were in a 30 gallon tank, you should be doing 50% weekly water changes. Since you have 1/3 the amount of water, waste builds up even faster. You need to do 50% 3x a week to keep up with them.

 

[Goldiegupp]

Ok, good to know.

But today after I did the 40%, there was like no waste. Usually I get a bunch (that is, when I had the guppies there, but they got evicted lol) which is normal. But now it seems alot better. I think the reason for that is because I really really really hate poo floating around in there, so any time I see it...even a tiny particle...SHOOOP I suck it out. It's almost a daily thing. I think I'm getting off topic though lol. I just want to know about good bacteria! I don't really know how it works haha, like what it takes to have them start growing.

 

[OrangeCones]

What are your readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

The beneficial bacteria is likely already in the tank, and just needs to be not killed off by cleaning your sponge in tapwater.

 

[rubbaducky92]

Water changes (as much as needed) until your nitrate is almost totally gone. If you even have nitrate, that means there's a colony growing so that's a start. Nitrate would be the last stage of the cycle. Keep doing heavy water changes. Don't try to elliminate ALL the nitrite for now... bacteria need to eat. Keep your water warm, (heard the dark helps), don't over feed and it'll be growing in no time. Are you getting nitrate readings at all?

 

[Goldiegupp]

Ok, good to know. Currently .5 nitrate, 0 nitrite, and I'm going to get ammonia tested tomorrow... saving up for the kit. Water is 72, a little warm for goldies but my red cap likes the warmer temps. Haha no chance of overfeeding with my babies they swallow anything in sight before it hits the gravel. And this time when I cleaned the old tank water like what you said to rinse the sponge filter out.