Providing Clean Water to Reptiles & Amphibians: the Nitrogen Cycle

[findiviglio]

Hello Frank and thanks for another well written article . One event I've experienced when establishing tanks is that using ammonia or nitrite neutralizing chemicals will actually sequester these compounds. Although manufacturers state the ammonia and nitrites are still available to bacteria; my experience is that they are not.

Because of that, bacteria populations partially collapse due to lack of food, and that extends the time required to establish a stable biological cycle. After 52 years in hobby of aquarium keeping my average to establish a stable biological cycle without seeding with filter material from another tank is around 30 days. Adding a culture product usually shortens that in half. In two instances when I used 2 different ammonia/nitrite neutralizing products, the period extended to 2 months .

Have you experienced any similar events? Thank you !

Hi Carlos,

Sorry for the delay, your comment slipped past me somehow. Thanks for the observations. I've had a similar report from another well-experienced aquarist, but I can't say I've seen that myself. Lately I've been setting up exhibits at a public aquarium and then leaving them to the care of the staff (I'm n as a consultant), so I've not followed up as much as in years past; I'll mention your experiences the next time I'm there; perhaps someone will have info to add,. best, Frank