Zeolite and Salt Questions

Jay · 08-27-2006, 07:05 AM

Jillianne Sent me this PM, with her permission I am posting it in the forum for discussion.

Jay

Jillianne asked...

Quote:

My mother has been setting up a couple of aquariums, both freshwater, one tropical and one goldfish. Both she had added some salt to upon information read and advice from the LFS. The ammonia became an issue during cycling like normal, when she asked the owner of the LFS about what to do, she recommended adding a bag of zeolite to the tanks to help absorb some of the ammonia. After losing one of her goldfish (which was showing signs of stress before even being added to the tank) she called the LFS again , this time the owner said not to use the zeolite with the salted tanks because it would release ammonia back into the tank. Is this true?

But the real concern now seems to be the nitrite levels in the tank, they are reading near off the chart, the ammonia is at 0 and there is trace nitrate say 5-10, the fish seem fine, no sign of stress other than my mother pulling her hair out over this and constantly asking me what to do about it. The LFS said she might be doing partial water changes to frequently, keeping the tank to clean...suggestions...opinions...other than giving mom valium till the cycle is complete.

Jillianne

Jay · 08-27-2006, 07:55 AM

And they even convince you to by complex and complicated products to go along with their expert information

I do not think there is any question your moms tank is in the Nitrite spike of the cycling process. It is usually the slowest to occur as the bacteria colonies establish themselves. Sometimes the Nitrite spikes are worse than the ammonia spikes, and are more toxic.

Fishless cycling would have helped.

Read the stickies on tank cycling, copy paste and give the information to your mom. This is aquarium start up basics.

Zeolite is a crystalline compound both formed in nature and man made. The crystals are capable of adsorbing certain chemical compounds and holding them. There are hundreds of types of Zeolite compounds each more effective with this compound or that. In the aquarium hobby, you will find them marketed as ammonia removers. NOTE: they trap and bond ammonia they do not detox it. The ammonia is still available for bacterial consumption it is just not present in the water column.

Everybody cool with that

Therefore using zeolite during the cycling process will probably slow the bacterial colony building down , and will not help with nitrites already being produced. The presence of ammonia is crutial in tank cycling.

Zeolite is most useful after a tank is fully cycled and established. Say I want to add 4 Anglefish. I know my bio-filter is large enough to handle the fish I have and the waste they produce. Adding a little zeolite to the filter will prevent an ammonia spike in the water column and let the bio filter increase to handle the load.

Salt Read the sticky on salt use in a freshwater aquarium.

Had the lfs guy said "a little salt will help the fish with their stress" over high nitrites. "It will not detox the nitrites or cure any damage done to the gills or system, but it will ease their suffering a bit." Then I would continue to seek his counsel. Get my drift

Regards,
Jay

Striped Bass · 08-27-2006, 10:08 AM

I have one major question before ill say anything. How long have these two tanks been set up and running? If either of them have been set up for less then a month and you have added fish YOUR ASKING FOR PROBLEMS.

ahill3780 · 08-27-2006, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Zeolite is a crystalline compound both formed in nature and man made. The crystals are capable of adsorbing certain chemical compounds and holding them. There are hundreds of types of Zeolite compounds each more effective with this compound or that. In the aquarium hobby, you will find them marketed as ammonia removers. NOTE: they trap and bond ammonia they do not detox it. The ammonia is still available for bacterial consumption it is just not present in the water column.

Very good explanation Jay!

I would add that since the zeolite has bonded the ammonia to its surface the bacteria must travel to the zeolite to feed off of it. When you remove the zeo from the tank you will be removing the bacteria it has grown as well. This is why Jay says that you should not consider its use while cycling, because the purpose of the cycle is to colonize your permanent surfaces with the beneficial bacteria which are going to play janitor to your tank from that point on.