Is this true?

[Anna94]

I read that if your local water supply uses chloramine instead of just chlorine that you'll never have 0 ammonia. I also read that beneficial bacteria underperforms in acidic water and does better in alkaline water? Is this true?

 

[Andy Sager]

No & Yes.
When you have chloramine in your water, you use a product ( ie prime, safe) that breaks the chlorine ammonia bond and converts the ammonia to ammonium then the bacteria in your tank will consume and convert that so you will eventually have a 0 ammonia level.

Nitrifying bacteria will do better in higher PHs than lower. However, the plus side to the lower Ph is that when PH is under 6.8- 7.0 ammonia is converted to ammonium which is much less toxic to the fish and so with a lower PH, the need for nitrifying bacteria goes down. ( There's a much more technical explanation but this is the short version. )

Hope this helps.

 

[brendenscott]

No & Yes.
When you have chloramine in your water, you use a product ( ie prime, safe) that breaks the chlorine ammonia bond and converts the ammonia to ammonium then the bacteria in your tank will consume and convert that so you will eventually have a 0 ammonia level.

Nitrifying bacteria will do better in higher PHs than lower. However, the plus side to the lower Ph is that when PH is under 6.8- 7.0 ammonia is converted to ammonium which is much less toxic to the fish and so with a lower PH, the need for nitrifying bacteria goes down. ( There's a much more technical explanation but this is the short version. )

Hope this helps.

Great info here [emoji106]

 

[toolman]

Great info here [emoji106]

+1 wish we all had Andy's knowledge to passing. He's like your favorite author, can't wait to read everything he posts.

 

[mbkemp]

Truth!! Andy is a boss.

 

[Andy Sager]

+1 wish we all had Andy's knowledge to passing. He's like your favorite author, can't wait to read everything he posts.

Truth!! Andy is a boss.

Thanks guys but I am just trying to do my part to make the hobby a better one than it's been. It all comes from experience.
I encourage you all, especially newbies, to read another post here on AA as well. If ever there should be a sticky, this thread is it!!!
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f23/bad-advice-358729.html

 

[nirbhao]

We have boatloads of chloramine in our water. Nitrites are where I struggle, although everything's doing alright now.