As I was cycling my tank I was periodically checking my nitrogen levels as time went by. It seemed like my ammonia was always trace and never went away. Then one day I checked nitrite for S & Gs. Zero. So I have been checking both, nitrite always shows zero and ammonia always shows trace. This tank has been going for 4 months + now, over filtered with live sand, live rock and no real inhabitants. I don't understand how you could have ammonia and no nitrite. Could my test just be screwed up?
NH4 without NO2??
- Thread starter Shiroi Katsune
- Start date
What types of media are you using? anything that may be absorbing something?
What are you using for an ammonia source?
Is this salt or freshwater? Not that it would make much of a difference for this point in the process...
What are you using for an ammonia source?
Is this salt or freshwater? Not that it would make much of a difference for this point in the process...
Media is carbon, little bio rock things, filter pad, and protien skimmer, previously equiped with a 350 magnum as well. Always run through filters at 13 + times an hour.
Ammonia source is two small eels and a couple cleaners.
Salt hence the live sand, live rock. I've also got some seaweed, macro algae in there to boot.
Makes no sense for ammonia to be present but no nitrite, I think the regant has to be bad.
Ammonia source is two small eels and a couple cleaners.
Salt hence the live sand, live rock. I've also got some seaweed, macro algae in there to boot.
Makes no sense for ammonia to be present but no nitrite, I think the regant has to be bad.
"live rock" and "live sand" is simply rock & sand with bacteria living in/on it... which we have in both fresh and saltwater... although the terminology is much more prevalent in salt water...
So your eels are making ammonia…
They make it faster than your live rock & live sand can oxidize it into nitrite, which is why you have a trace reading of ammonia…
When the ammonia is oxidized it is converted into nitrite… which is also oxidized by bacteria living in/on your live rock & live sand. It appears that there is enough bacteria to oxidize the nitrite as cast as it is produced, which is why you have zero reading…
Do you have a nitrate reading? I would expect nitrate is being produced… although the anaerobic bacteria in the live rock & live sand, along with the assistance of the seaweed and macro algae, might be consuming it as fast as it’s created.
Your system seems like a typically functioning seeded system in the mid stream of a cycling process…
So your eels are making ammonia…
They make it faster than your live rock & live sand can oxidize it into nitrite, which is why you have a trace reading of ammonia…
When the ammonia is oxidized it is converted into nitrite… which is also oxidized by bacteria living in/on your live rock & live sand. It appears that there is enough bacteria to oxidize the nitrite as cast as it is produced, which is why you have zero reading…
Do you have a nitrate reading? I would expect nitrate is being produced… although the anaerobic bacteria in the live rock & live sand, along with the assistance of the seaweed and macro algae, might be consuming it as fast as it’s created.
Your system seems like a typically functioning seeded system in the mid stream of a cycling process…
This system has been up and running for months, well years actually but was taken down for 3 days about 4 months ago, it is not in cycle anymore. Every parameter except for the ammonia is perfect. There is no sense in having Ammonia without Nitrite.
As to what was asked previously, do you have a nitrate reading? It sounds as if the tank is still cycling or going through a mini-cycle. If you have ammonia readings, then there is a cycle happening. Have you done anything differently lately?
Typical cycle process:
ammonia-->bacteria-->Nitrite-->bacteria-->nitrates-->waterchange
Typical cycle process:
ammonia-->bacteria-->Nitrite-->bacteria-->nitrates-->waterchange