Nutrafin CO2- will this hurt fish if put in tank? - Aquarium Advice

stephenk · 01-29-2007, 03:53 PM

Long time reader, first time poster.

I have been out of the hobby for a while. I just started back up with a 10G tank. While it was in the process of a fishless cycle I decided to plant it. I have quite a few plants now that seem to be doing well. While at my lfs I asked about CO2, the person working sold me Nutrafin CO2 packets and told me to add them to the water as you would a CO2 fizz tab. I did and the water clouded significantly. I went on the internet and found this is because these packets aren't supposed to be added to the water, but are to be used in the CO2 kit.

Today my Nitrites went down to 0 and my cycle is finished. Also, the cloudiness caused by the packets is gone. I am hoping to add fish after a partial water change in a day or two. Does anyone know if any of the ingredients in the Nutrafin activator or stabilizer packets are harmful to fish? If they are, would I need to do a complete water change to remove them?

My guess is there isn't much more than yeast and a few other things in these packets, and with a pwc I will be ok. But I wanted some other opinions.

Thanks,
Stephen

rich311k · 01-29-2007, 03:59 PM

They contain yeast and baking soda. I would imagine with a good size water change you should not experience any problems.

**Zagz** · 01-29-2007, 07:37 PM

Welcome to AA! I am in agreement with Rich, but if you are concerned, add some active charcoal to the filter.

Mosaic · 01-29-2007, 10:51 PM

Welcome!

I got some DIY CO2 mix in my tank, which was yeast and baking soda, just like what's in those packets. It killed my fish. Be very, very diligent about your water change before adding fish. Do multiple PWCs.

Also, post pics when you get your fish!

rich311k · 01-29-2007, 10:53 PM

Mosaic was yours in a mix that had been running already? I imagine some of the liquid got in the tank too.

7Enigma · 02-01-2007, 10:05 AM

The packet itself will not cause any harm really. The baking soda will just increase the KH of the water (not harmful), and the yeast probably won't be able to multiply much in such a dilute tank. A PWC is a good idea, but probably not vital.

Mosaic,

Could have been the byproducts of the yeast fermentation that killed the fish (namely alcohol and such a large amount of yeast if it was already running).

Argblarg · 02-01-2007, 12:40 PM

The yeast and bacteria that consume the sugar will deplete the oxygen in the water very quickly, this is why fish die when the bottles tip over and leak into the tank. If you just added the packets and not the sugar, you will be fine.

BrianNY · 02-01-2007, 12:41 PM

Or.......... So much CO2 was added to the water that the fish suffocated. Those CO2 tablets can be a disaster. FWIW, adding CO2 to a tank that doesn't have enough light to drive photosynthesis is a waste of time and money. What type of lighting do you have stephenk?

stephenk · 02-02-2007, 01:20 AM

Thanks for the opinions everyone. I did a 50% pwc and everything checked out OK. Now 3 days later the fish seem to be doing great.

I currently have:
3 yoyo loaches
2 cory cats
1 pearl gourami

Thanks again.

rkilling1 · 02-03-2007, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7Enigma

The baking soda will just increase the KH of the water (not harmful),

I just wanted to clarify this statement. Adding a SMALL amount of baking soda will have little to no effect on the fish, but if you add enough to significantly change your KH, you risk killing fish. ie changing the KH of your tank is a short amount of time is very stressful to fish.

Quote:

FWIW, adding CO2 to a tank that doesn't have enough light to drive photosynthesis is a waste of time and money

Adding CO2 to any light level will increase growth of plants.

If you don't have enough light to drive photosynthesis aren't the plants going to die?

01-29-2007, 03:53 PM	#1
stephenk Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 6	Nutrafin CO2- will this hurt fish if put in tank? Long time reader, first time poster. I have been out of the hobby for a while. I just started back up with a 10G tank. While it was in the process of a fishless cycle I decided to plant it. I have quite a few plants now that seem to be doing well. While at my lfs I asked about CO2, the person working sold me Nutrafin CO2 packets and told me to add them to the water as you would a CO2 fizz tab. I did and the water clouded significantly. I went on the internet and found this is because these packets aren't supposed to be added to the water, but are to be used in the CO2 kit. Today my Nitrites went down to 0 and my cycle is finished. Also, the cloudiness caused by the packets is gone. I am hoping to add fish after a partial water change in a day or two. Does anyone know if any of the ingredients in the Nutrafin activator or stabilizer packets are harmful to fish? If they are, would I need to do a complete water change to remove them? My guess is there isn't much more than yeast and a few other things in these packets, and with a pwc I will be ok. But I wanted some other opinions. Thanks, Stephen

01-29-2007, 10:51 PM	#4
Mosaic Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 646 Images: 3	Welcome! I got some DIY CO2 mix in my tank, which was yeast and baking soda, just like what's in those packets. It killed my fish. Be very, very diligent about your water change before adding fish. Do multiple PWCs. Also, post pics when you get your fish! __________________ I just want my planted tanks to be perfect. Is that so much to ask? 55g: (Mostly) African riverine species: Alestes Chaperi, breeding pair of Kribs, and rhino pleco 30g: Newly established reef tank 10g: Planted but fishless 5g: Unplanted with various snail species 2.5g: Heavily planted with betta.

02-01-2007, 10:05 AM	#6
7Enigma Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Havertown, PA Posts: 2,624 Images: 5	The packet itself will not cause any harm really. The baking soda will just increase the KH of the water (not harmful), and the yeast probably won't be able to multiply much in such a dilute tank. A PWC is a good idea, but probably not vital. Mosaic, Could have been the byproducts of the yeast fermentation that killed the fish (namely alcohol and such a large amount of yeast if it was already running). __________________ 20G High -Currently in tank: 1 checkered barb, 1 cory, 1 BN pleco, MTS, variety of platy (fry, juvi, adult), lots of plants. http://www.photolocker.net/images/7Enigma/milfoil2.jpg

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01-29-2007, 03:59 PM	#2
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	They contain yeast and baking soda. I would imagine with a good size water change you should not experience any problems.

01-29-2007, 10:53 PM	#5
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	Mosaic was yours in a mix that had been running already? I imagine some of the liquid got in the tank too.

02-01-2007, 12:40 PM	#7
Argblarg Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 85	The yeast and bacteria that consume the sugar will deplete the oxygen in the water very quickly, this is why fish die when the bottles tip over and leak into the tank. If you just added the packets and not the sugar, you will be fine.

02-01-2007, 12:41 PM	#8
BrianNY Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 4,259 Images: 18	Or.......... So much CO2 was added to the water that the fish suffocated. Those CO2 tablets can be a disaster. FWIW, adding CO2 to a tank that doesn't have enough light to drive photosynthesis is a waste of time and money. What type of lighting do you have stephenk?

02-02-2007, 01:20 AM	#9
stephenk Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 6	Thanks for the opinions everyone. I did a 50% pwc and everything checked out OK. Now 3 days later the fish seem to be doing great. I currently have: 3 yoyo loaches 2 cory cats 1 pearl gourami Thanks again.