No Ammonia after 2 weeks, normal?

[falconut]

My small pond is about 400 gallons and was filled just over two weeks ago. The fish were added about two weeks ago. Two Commets (5"-6") & One Subunkin (4"-5"), which I haven't been feeding too much. The water was about 50 degrees a week ago and 59 degrees today.

I added three pots with a lily in each a few days ago. I can feel a slime on the liner, but the water is crystal clear.

Is it normal that Ammonia is 0, Nitrite is 0 and Nitrate is 0 after two weeks? Shouldn't I see some ammonia? My tanks usually showed ammonia in this time. I was wondering if I should add a few more fish, maybe the load is too light to start with?

 

[shakaho]

Perfectly normal. You have a lot of water per fish and are feeding lightly. I bet you didn't have 130 gallons per fish in your tanks. Aside from the nitrifiers that come into your pond from dirt (which is everywhere outside) you added more with those lilies. They are quite adequate to take care of the small amount of ammonia produced by your fish. Your plants and algae will take care of the nitrates.

If you really want an ammonia reading, add some more fish and increase your feeding. You can produce enough ammonia to override your developing ecosystem. But why would you want to do that? Don't you like your fish?

 

[Waterbug]

At 50F the growth rate of nitrifying bacteria would be reduced by 75% of optimum. So I wouldn't give the bacteria too much credit.

My guess would be the slime you feel is algae and it would consume the ammonia directly along with the nitrate. If you care you can can rub a white cloth on the liner to see its color. I'd be curious about the nitrate level your source water has.

 

[falconut]

I don't want ammonia, but it is necessary for the beginning of a cycle, I doubt I can have a cycle without ever seeing it. Not sure if the cycle has even started. Was wondering if it sounds like the load is too small to start it. And no, I never had 1 fish per 130 gallons in my tanks. I did ad a small rock from an established tank I had to the pond when I started it up. I figured that would help bring some bacteria in quicker.

I guess I just figured I'd be seeing some ammonia reading already.

 

[sissy]

remeber you fish will have babies so i would not ad any more fish to your pond .Plants could e sucking up the ammonia and you are feeding them a small amount which is good .I see to many that put fish in and start feeding 3 or 4 times a day and fish die and they wonder why .My fish only get fed 3 or 4 times a week .

 

[falconut]

Waterbug - I wiped the liner with a paper towel and my finger and it has no color. Not exactly sure what that means.

Sissy - I don't think they would have babies already would they. I figured it would take a few seasons before that would happen. Plus wouldn't the other fish eat the fry?

 

[sissy]

Not always I get a surprise every spring and this year was no different except less of them .The first year mine spawned and i had 8 babies i gave away and 2 years ago I gave 15 babies away .They can be baby machines and as long as the eggs are hidden amongst plants and the fry have a place to hide you will find babies .

 

[callingcolleen1]

So far so good! Glad to hear your your new pond is off to a good start, with none of the usual problems that come with a new pond. You will have to post a picture when you can, as we love to look at pictures!

 

[Catfishnut]

Falconut,

My gut instinct is that there is ammonia present, but the level is so low that you are not detecting it. With only three small fish in a new pond of fresh water and with the temps still fairly low, it is probably just so low of a level that you're not seeing it yet. Couple this with whatever water works you have (filters or fountains and aerators) you're probably outgassing what little is present. Also, as Waterbug cited, there may be some beneficial algae growth there that is taking up the rest.

As long as it is appearing this well so far, I wouldn't add too many more fish to the pond just yet, a couple would be fine, but not a bunch. This is my opinion based upon hunches, but I think I would wait til the temp stayed above 65°F and then monitor the levels and add one new fish a week. Right now, it sounds like everything is operating perfectly and there is no sense in disturbing that. You can slowly expand your fish colony and allow the bio-system to adjust gradually. Yep! I'd say you were starting off on top so far and you ought to maintain that advantage.

Catfishnut

 

[Waterbug]

Waterbug - I wiped the liner with a paper towel and my finger and it has no color. Not exactly sure what that means.

My guess would now be you're just feeling the liner. A longer shot guess would be bacteria bio film. Bacteria bio films I've seen would be brown, like tea colored. But I assume they're clear initially, so maybe. But the low temps and having what I'd assume would be the entire liner covered in it, and it's thick enough to feel, and the pond is so new it seems like a long shot. But bacteria, so many kinds, and they do do this kind of thing for a living, so probably possible. I would rule out nitrifying bacteria however, at least for being a major component, because of the temps and pond age. But again, hard to say for sure.

Playing the odds I'd have to assume there is algae growing even if not visible to the naked eye. Plenty of species would do will in those temps.

 

[shakaho]

At 50F the growth rate of nitrifying bacteria would be reduced by 75% of optimum. So I wouldn't give the bacteria too much credit.

Would you give me a source for this information, please?

 

[Catfishnut]

Shakaho,

Here is a nice article to read:

http://www.bioconlabs.com/nitribactfacts.html

Catfishnut

 

[shakaho]

That's the usual source. People read everything except this very important statement:

"There are several species of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria and many strains among those species. Most of this information can be applied to species of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter in general., however, each strain may have specific tolerances to environmental factors and nutriment preferences not shared by other, very closely related, strains. The information presented here applies specifically to those strains being cultivated by Fritz Industries, Inc."

In nature, as opposed to in a factory growing a single strain of one species isolated from sewage decades ago, there are a variety of nitrifying bacteria/archaea adapted to their environment.

 

[falconut]

I decided to pickup 3 Sarassa Comets, they were buy 2 get 1 free.

 

[Catfishnut]

That's the usual source. People read everything except this very important statement:

"There are several species of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria and many strains among those species. Most of this information can be applied to species of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter in general., however, each strain may have specific tolerances to environmental factors and nutriment preferences not shared by other, very closely related, strains. The information presented here applies specifically to those strains being cultivated by Fritz Industries, Inc."

In nature, as opposed to in a factory growing a single strain of one species isolated from sewage decades ago, there are a variety of nitrifying bacteria/archaea adapted to their environment.

Shakaho,

For me personally, your statement eludes my thoughts. I am not certain if you mean that the information is inaccurate because it refers to only specific species of bacteria or because those species mentioned are raised in a synthetic environment as opposed to being "free range" bacteria. I don't see the difference either way. They do the same thing regardless of how the culture or colony was propogated. The data presented may be specificly correct for one strain, but it will not be so unique as to not apply to all other similar strains of identical bacteria.

i.e.

If you raise a cow in Iowa and feed it corn and barley in a feed lot, is it any different than raising its sister on an open range in western Nebraska and feeding it hay and prairie grass?
Yep! The meat tastes differently, but it is still a cow!

Catfishnut