Ammo-chips experiment

[bailey1993]

Yesterday I put ammo-chips in a stocking and put it in a pan of water-approx 1 gallon. I am trying to lower the ammonia in my tap water before I add it it to the 5 gallon tank. The readings in the tank are finally getting lower but the ammonia is not at zero yet, so I do not want to add water that reads at a higher level than the tank. The chips have lowered the ammonia to .50 ppm in the pan, the tank is @ .25ppm. I am wondering how long these chips will take to get the water in the pan at an acceptable level.

[Lady Hobbs]

Generally the water needs to run thru that stuff to get it to be effective. You would probably do better with a drop in tablet ammonia remover.

[bailey1993]

The chips were what the guy at petco suggested. He said to put them in the filter which I will do but I wanted to get the tap water fixed also. Before I was just adding the same level of ammonia right back in when I was doing the water changes and not providing any relief to the fish. I am also adding stress-zyme. What is biomax and would this help me also?

[ISquishWorms]

Hello Bailey,

This is just my inexperienced opinion but I would not use those chips in the filter that you use on your tank. If you remove ammonia from your water in the tank using this method then what are the good bacteria going to use as food in your filter? If they removed all the ammonia from your water in the tank thus leaving no food for the bacteria to feed on then the bacteria in your filter would die meaning that you would become reliant on buying ammonia chips to remove ammonia from your tank water. I guess it would depend on how effective these chips are and if they remove all ammonia or just a small amount. If they leave enough trace ammonia to still allow your filter to complete the cycle then I guess they would be ok to use. Someone who knows a little more may post and let you know if my thinking is correct or not.

Once your filter is cycled it should be able to process the little ammonia that you introduce during your water changes. You already say that your tank ammonia readings are getting closer to zero which suggests that your cycle is heading in the right direction.

ISquishWorms.

[Northernguy]

The chips were what the guy at petco suggested. He said to put them in the filter which I will do but I wanted to get the tap water fixed also. Before I was just adding the same level of ammonia right back in when I was doing the water changes and not providing any relief to the fish. I am also adding stress-zyme. What is biomax and would this help me also?
Biomax is media that goes in your filter to grow good bacteria to help maintain your cycle.It does nothing for immediate ammonia removal.
The ammo chips will only be any good in your filter.
Your cycle should take care of any ammonia in your tap water.

[Wild Turkey]

The chips will not lower your ammonia reading, ever.

If you are waiting for it to drop, you will always be waiting until your tank is cycled. The ammonia chips "ionize" ammonia, binding it with other elements in the aquarium, and making it less harmful, but not removing it. Most test kits (api included) test for total ammonia (free ammonia + ionized ammonia) so your test results will be much the same as they were before adding the chips.


General Info for the OP and Isquish: The natural filter bacteria that processes ammonia will also process ammonium. (the binded ammonia) so adding ammonia "reducers" like the chips is not a problem, they are just perhaps inappropriately named imo.

[ISquishWorms]

The chips will not lower your ammonia reading, ever.

If you are waiting for it to drop, you will always be waiting until your tank is cycled. The ammonia chips "ionize" ammonia, binding it with other elements in the aquarium, and making it less harmful, but not removing it. Most test kits (api included) test for total ammonia (free ammonia + ionized ammonia) so your test results will be much the same as they were before adding the chips.


General Info for the OP and Isquish: The natural filter bacteria that processes ammonia will also process ammonium. (the binded ammonia) so adding ammonia "reducers" like the chips is not a problem, they are just perhaps inappropriately named imo.

Thanks, Wild Turkey thats useful info to know. I guess the same applies to Ammo Lock etc. So in this case if Bailey was to use those chips in her filter it may benefit her fish by reducing the effect of the ammonia on her fish while still allowing her filter to adjust and grow the bacteria needed to process ammonia. Although her test results will not change. Is my understanding correct now?

[Wild Turkey]

Thanks, Wild Turkey thats useful info to know. I guess the same applies to Ammo Lock etc. So in this case if Bailey was to use those chips in her filter it may benefit her fish by reducing the effect of the ammonia on her fish while still allowing her filter to adjust and grow the bacteria needed to process ammonia. Although her test results will not change. Is my understanding correct now?

Yup you got it thumbs2:

[bailey1993]

I am going to have to re read this info over and over to figure this out, but you are correct my experiment did not work. My problem is that the tank is not cycled yet and putting tap water in that has such a high ammonia level did not seem to help. The tank water is at .25 now, but the tap is @1 and the experimental water is still at 1ppm too. The level in tank is just starting to drop now that I have suspended the water changes. Is there any way to get the ammonia out of the tap water?

[Deleted User]

General Info for the OP and Isquish: The natural filter bacteria that processes ammonia will also process ammonium. (the binded ammonia) so adding ammonia "reducers" like the chips is not a problem, they are just perhaps inappropriately named imo.
That is interesting information. I wasn't sure how using the chips or locking products effected an aquarium cycle / biological filter, so was interested to read your advice, Turkey!

[Lab_Rat]

The chips will not lower your ammonia reading, ever.

If you are waiting for it to drop, you will always be waiting until your tank is cycled. The ammonia chips "ionize" ammonia, binding it with other elements in the aquarium, and making it less harmful, but not removing it. Most test kits (api included) test for total ammonia (free ammonia + ionized ammonia) so your test results will be much the same as they were before adding the chips.


General Info for the OP and Isquish: The natural filter bacteria that processes ammonia will also process ammonium. (the binded ammonia) so adding ammonia "reducers" like the chips is not a problem, they are just perhaps inappropriately named imo.

Actually, the chips are not going to ionize the ammonia to ammonium (which is not bound, simply ionized); rather the zeolite based chips (an absorption resin) will absorb the ammonia itself until the resin is saturated. They will lower ammonia. I think you are getting confused between the resin which removes ammonia and the detoxifiers, such as Prime, which will convert ammonia to ammonium ion. Just wanted to clear that up. MP

[Taurus]

Actually, the chips are not going to ionize the ammonia to ammonium (which is not bound, simply ionized); rather the zeolite based chips (an absorption resin) will absorb the ammonia itself until the resin is saturated. They will lower ammonia. I think you are getting confused between the resin which removes ammonia and the detoxifiers, such as Prime, which will convert ammonia to ammonium ion. Just wanted to clear that up. MP

Right on Labby! Zeolite is a resin\clay that will absorb ammonia. There is no ion exchange. Zeolite does get saturated with ammonia and can fall apart. If that happens it will release ammonia back into the water column. When I fist started back into the hobby, I experimented with zeolite. I left it in my filter too long. It broke apart and released ammonia into the water killing a dwarf flame gourami. I'll never use the stuff again.

[ISquishWorms]

So does this all mean that my first post in this thread is still relevant?

I know it does not take much but I am a bit confused now. I thought I understood after Wild Turkey had explained.

Sorry for hijacking your thread Bailey just that your question got me thinking about ammo chips and wanting to understand how they work.

ISquishWorms.

[Wild Turkey]

It actually depends solely on the product. Some ionize, some use zeolite, some both and often the name doesnt hint as to which.


The "ammo lock" chips that are popular do ionize ammonia. Zeolite chips work a little differently, and yes they will remove ammonia and other chemicals as well, like nitrite.

The name of the OPs product would be required to say one way or the other. (My b, I assumed you were using ammo-lock)

With the use of zeolite, yes imo it slowing down the cycle is a real possibility but it depends on the effectiveness of the product.

If I was to recommend one it would be the ammo-lock style product. (Save some money and just buy urself some prime.)

[Lab_Rat]

This is just my inexperienced opinion but I would not use those chips in the filter that you use on your tank. If you remove ammonia from your water in the tank using this method then what are the good bacteria going to use as food in your filter? If they removed all the ammonia from your water in the tank thus leaving no food for the bacteria to feed on then the bacteria in your filter would die meaning that you would become reliant on buying ammonia chips to remove ammonia from your tank water. I guess it would depend on how effective these chips are and if they remove all ammonia or just a small amount. If they leave enough trace ammonia to still allow your filter to complete the cycle then I guess they would be ok to use. Someone who knows a little more may post and let you know if my thinking is correct or not.

Once your filter is cycled it should be able to process the little ammonia that you introduce during your water changes. You already say that your tank ammonia readings are getting closer to zero which suggests that your cycle is heading in the right direction.

ISquishWorms.

So does this all mean that my first post in this thread is still relevant?

Yes, it was an excellent post. :thumb:

[ISquishWorms]

Thanks all for clearing that up. You may have your thread back now Bailey. :hmm3grin2orange: sorry.

[jay2487]

She said tap water but I heard nothing of dechlorinators? Or did I miss that?

[Wild Turkey]

She said tap water but I heard nothing of dechlorinators? Or did I miss that?


^ this is a good point IMO,

"Prime" should fix this problem for you without having to soak water in trays, incase that bit of info was missed in the confusion. Another ammonia de-toxifier/ionizer in the form of a powerful and popular dechlor

[Lab_Rat]

"Prime" should fix this problem for you without having to soak water in trays, incase that bit of info was missed in the confusion. Another ammonia de-toxifier/ionizer in the form of a powerful and popular dechlor

Agree. Prime is awesome. Won't use anything else on my tanks.

[Taurus]

Prime.:22:

[bailey1993]

I am using Aqua-Safe, adding it a few minutes before adding water to tank. It says it neutralizes chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals. The petco guy said to add Ammo-Chips, by putting it in a stocking and putting it in the filter area. I just thought I would try to treat the water before adding it to the tank so I could cut down on adding water that was at a higher level of ammonia than was in my tank. I had not been able to get that level to reduce until I stopped doing so many water changes. What is the difference in Zeolite and these Ammo-Chips I bought? God, I hope I don't kill these fish.

[Wild Turkey]

What is the name of the product you are using? (the chips)


The dechlor you are using is ok, but If you switch to prime you wont need to use any chips or anything. The prime will "de-toxify" the ammonia so it does not harm the fish while your biological filtration does its work at reducing it. Its probably the most popular dechlor at the moment.

[bailey1993]

They are called Ammo-Chips. It comes in a yellow milk carton style box which says it removes ammonia.

[Taurus]

They are called Ammo-Chips. It comes in a yellow milk carton style box which says it removes ammonia.

Ammo-Chips is an API product made of zeolite. They absorb ammonia.

I'd return the carton to the place where you bought them and exchange for a bottle of Prime. Bailey, IMHO, Prime is your best option.

[bailey1993]

I am going to get prime tomorrow at another lfs. I doubt that petco will take the box back, thankfully I got a small box. I will just through it away and not get any more advise at petco.

[KingFisher]

I am going to get prime tomorrow at another lfs. I doubt that petco will take the box back, thankfully I got a small box. I will just through it away and not get any more advise at petco.

I use these chips when I drip acclimate fish. I sprinkle some in the bottom of the bucket to absorb any ammonia produced while the fish are acclimating. Just a thought so you can use them instead of throwing them away.

[bailey1993]

Good idea, thanks for the tip!

[Taurus]

I am going to get prime tomorrow at another lfs. I doubt that petco will take the box back, thankfully I got a small box. I will just through it away and not get any more advise at petco.

Petco stocks Prime, but it's expensive there. Do shop (or call) around if you have other options in your area.

[bailey1993]

I added prime and start smart wed night and my level of ammonia went from .25/.50 to zero in 12 hours.

[Taurus]

Excellent. thumbs2:

[ISquishWorms]

I added prime and start smart wed night and my level of ammonia went from .25/.50 to zero in 12 hours.

Thats great newd Bailey. I am so happy for you that your water parameters are finally looking good. :19:

[bailey1993]

I will continue to test water levels. This 5 gallon tank is going to more work than a larger one, I know. I am getting a new tank this week and going to do a fish less cycle with the information I find in this forum. The lfs says I can add more fish but I am going to keep the ones I have.