maylee Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 I'm wondering if this sounds normal to you guys. Controsoil with mkbreed silver powder in the middle layer of the substrate RO water with no remineralizer yet Double sponge filter I added a pinch of Bacter AE last night. Nothing else added. However, three days in and I'm already seeing ammonia and high levels of nitrite and nitrate. It sounds way too early to me. Things of note; I did run this sponge filter in another tank for a couple of hours but not enough to seed it. I decided it was disturbing that tank too much so i changed my mind and took it out. It was a few days after before I put it into this new tank so it dried out and I don't think any BB lived through it. I am reusing a tank. Could it be that I didn't clean it thoroughly enough? No, I didn't use vinegar or any chemicals to clean it. Just water and scrubbing. It was also left empty and dry for a week. Also, my pH is still in the mid 6s or so but it's still early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMG Aquatics Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 ControSoil does NOT leech ammonia so how did u get ammonia levels if u never added it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maylee Posted August 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 ControSoil does NOT leech ammonia so how did u get ammonia levels if u never added it? As of right now, I'm leaning towards the tank not being cleaned well enough if that's a possibility. It was a betta tank prior to this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaykidding Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 I doubt it was from not good cleaning since bacteria should be killed if the tank was dried for that long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricM Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 why the AE? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaykidding Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Do you have all the mk-breed porducts? I wouldn't mix mk and bacter ae if you dont know the results.. try cycling a way either mayphly or james aquatics has pinned. Its in care feeding and breeding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maylee Posted August 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 The Bacter AE wasn't anything I thought would have to do with cycling. I just thought it could help with jump starting biofilm. If not then that's a mistake I'll learn from. The only other mkbreed product i have is blue diamond which I do plan to use once it's cycled. Thanks, I'll look over the cycling thread again. I forgot all about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaykidding Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Yup blue diamond is your reminalizer. Check out james aquatics way of cycling its easy and simple. I plan to try it once i get controsoil. And i dont think it has to do with the bacter ae either but something isnt right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadenlea Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 I have not had a chance to set up my new controsoil tank yet as family has been visiting but I will just throw this in to the mix. I know that Controsoil is not supposed to leech ammonia but in researching, I did have a very respected and experienced person tell me that he had ammonia issues with controsoil also. Just putting that out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETAquarium Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 The equipment, substrate, and additives all sound fine, with the exception of Bacter AE, in my opinion it is still way to early to dose. What exactly are the Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate levels? Very unusual to have all three when starting a cycle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricM Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 I have not had a chance to set up my new controsoil tank yet as family has been visiting but I will just throw this in to the mix. I know that Controsoil is not supposed to leech ammonia but in researching, I did have a very respected and experienced person tell me that he had ammonia issues with controsoil also. Just putting that out there. that would be one of the very few of many many people to have ammonia issues.. did he give you more info? like too high or too low? what other stuff did he use during cycling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesHe Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 It's normal. NO3 is cause by MK-Breed Silver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maylee Posted August 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2015 The equipment, substrate, and additives all sound fine, with the exception of Bacter AE, in my opinion it is still way to early to dose. What exactly are the Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate levels? Very unusual to have all three when starting a cycle. I have some trouble discerning different colors on the API tests sometimes so my numbers may not be entirely correct but an approximation. ammonia - 0.5 ppm nitrite - 0.5 ppm nitrate - 10 ppm It's normal. NO3 is cause by MK-Breed Silver. This early in the cycle though? Interesting. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpy Daddy Posted August 18, 2015 Report Share Posted August 18, 2015 It's normal. NO3 is cause by MK-Breed Silver. I thought this is a probiotic + nitrifying bacteria blend? Hence, it should remove NO3 instead of adding it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesHe Posted August 18, 2015 Report Share Posted August 18, 2015 I thought this is a probiotic + nitrifying bacteria blend? Hence, it should remove NO3 instead of adding it? The end product of nitrifying bacteria is NO3. Are you talking about denitrifying bacteria? I don't think MK-Breed Silver has any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpy Daddy Posted August 18, 2015 Report Share Posted August 18, 2015 The end product of nitrifying bacteria is NO3. Are you talking about denitrifying bacteria? I don't think MK-Breed Silver has any. Oh... I thought the probiotic suppose to serve that purpose. Maybe they use different strand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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