I saw on this forum some old threads discussing the OF Hydra30 filter.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=242062
I didn't want to pop that old thread back to the top - but I think I have a question that I couldn't see answered on that thread.
There was a chap defending the Hydra30 by saying it removed Ammonia so prevented Nitrite.
My question - Is he suggesting that the filter only removes ammonia and therefore prevents nitrite by simply breaking the natural cycle. Or does the filter also remove Nitrite if nitrite was present. (The label on the box says "Detoxifies ammonia and nitrites)
I do accept that there is no substitute for a properly cycled tank so I don't want to avoid the cycle altogether but I find myself in the unenviable position of having a new tank with fish and I've been juggling ammonia for the last month. But now hit a nitrite spike. 50% water change yesterday and today but still too far above zero for comfort. (1 (one) on the teststrip scale). I have a water additive, probably based on salt, that supposedly prevents the fish taking up the nitrite but I'd rather just get the nitrite down.
I was wondering - would a Hydra filter get the Nitrite down (or does it only remove ammonia as that chap said) in which case the nitrite would still be there waiting, hopefully, for the budding bacteria colony to kick in.
I was wondering if I ran the hydra for, say, 12 hours a day and then switched it off for the other 12 then maybe there'd still be low level nitrite to continue building up the bacteria colony to manage the nitrite naturally.
Basically I want a natural cycle even if it takes longer than usual and was thinking that I could prevent dangerous spikes with ever decreasing use of the Hydra filter?
Sorry. I hope I'm making sense.
Thanks
Ian
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=242062
I didn't want to pop that old thread back to the top - but I think I have a question that I couldn't see answered on that thread.
There was a chap defending the Hydra30 by saying it removed Ammonia so prevented Nitrite.
My question - Is he suggesting that the filter only removes ammonia and therefore prevents nitrite by simply breaking the natural cycle. Or does the filter also remove Nitrite if nitrite was present. (The label on the box says "Detoxifies ammonia and nitrites)
I do accept that there is no substitute for a properly cycled tank so I don't want to avoid the cycle altogether but I find myself in the unenviable position of having a new tank with fish and I've been juggling ammonia for the last month. But now hit a nitrite spike. 50% water change yesterday and today but still too far above zero for comfort. (1 (one) on the teststrip scale). I have a water additive, probably based on salt, that supposedly prevents the fish taking up the nitrite but I'd rather just get the nitrite down.
I was wondering - would a Hydra filter get the Nitrite down (or does it only remove ammonia as that chap said) in which case the nitrite would still be there waiting, hopefully, for the budding bacteria colony to kick in.
I was wondering if I ran the hydra for, say, 12 hours a day and then switched it off for the other 12 then maybe there'd still be low level nitrite to continue building up the bacteria colony to manage the nitrite naturally.
Basically I want a natural cycle even if it takes longer than usual and was thinking that I could prevent dangerous spikes with ever decreasing use of the Hydra filter?
Sorry. I hope I'm making sense.
Thanks
Ian