Nitrite Question

[Juice79]

Hi guys. I have a 55g that i setup 5 weeks ago. Did a fishy cycle with a weekly water changes and at the end of week 4 the tank seemed to be cycled. For the past week I have been having highs nitrites. Here are my water readings:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 1
Nitrate: 10

My Nitrites have been like that since the end of week 4. During the past week (week 5) I have done water changes every other day to bring the Nitrite level down but it remains high. At the end of week 4 I changed out my gravel for sand, could this have caused the Nitrite spike. Also, no fish were added prior to the spike and no fish have since been added. Should I leave the tank alone and let it cycle itself out or should I get some Nitra-Zorb?

Thanks
Erik

 

[Juice79]

Just to be clear guys the Nitrite is 1.0 not 0.1

 

[FSM]

The gravel probably had some of the bacteria that convert nitrite into nitrate living on it. It will just have to finish cycling again.

 

[mojo2776]

Sounds like it just hasn't finished cycling yet. Doing water changes during cycling tends to lengthen the process.

 

[Bderick67]

Your tank will eventually work it's way out of this as your bacteria colonies grow. Nitrite levels above .25ppm are unhealthy for fish so do what you need, to keep the levels low. Water changes, dosing with prime and reduce feedings will work best.

Sounds like it just hasn't finished cycling yet. Doing water changes during cycling tends to lengthen the process.

This is not true, explain why it would lengthen the process.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

beneficial bacteria feed off nitrites and ammonia. Changing water removes these "nutrients", and, thus, limits bacterial growth. Do not get nitra-zorb, as it does the same thing. You want your tank to fully cycle!

The most important thing is a good biological filter. If you only have a hang-on, then that's the problem with your change of substrate. Your substrate housed more bacteria than the filter cartridge. If you have a canister with quality biomedia or a w/d, then you are all set and simply have to wait ...

Good luck,
HarleyK

 

[Bderick67]

Howdy,

beneficial bacteria feed off nitrites and ammonia. Changing water removes these "nutrients", and, thus, limits bacterial growth.

As long as there is an excess of ammonia or nitrites you will have growth of your bacteria colony. The BB can only reproduce and grow so fast, over feeding the BB will not make it grow faster. The bacteria will grow the same rate whether the nitrite level is 1.0ppm or 4.0ppm.

Even if the BB growth was slowed, he has fish in this tank, keeping them as healthy as possible should be his main concern.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

Water changes to save fish are an emergency.

He didn't specify number nor species of fish. If chosen wisely, no water change should be required for cycling because under these circumstances the reduction of nutrients is the limiting factor (Liebig's Law). But if the substrate was his main population of BB and he removed it, then nutrients were not limiting.

I guess we just don't know enough details.

HarleyK

 

[Juice79]

For Filtration - 2 HOB Aquaclear 70's and an Aquaclear 70 powerhead with a quick filter attached.

There are currently 12 Fish in the tank:

2 Irredescent Sharks
2 Bala Sharks
2 Parrot Fish
2 Pearl Gouramis
4 Tiger Barbs

So should I keep up the water changes or leave it alone? How long should I expect the spike to last?

 

[HarleyK]

Change water!

That's some serious stocking for cycling. The HOBs aren't powerhouses on beneficial bacteria (BB), you probably lost most BB when you changed the substrate. The quick filter on your powerhead is mechanical only: It's only temporary filtration for removing floaties. I suggest you take it off and let the HOBs catch some dirt to get the bacteria going. And monitor your nitrite and ammonia and change water. The fish you got were chosen wisely with regard to how hardy they are, but it's a lot to start out with. You could also get bottled bacteria (e.g. I use THIS) to speed up the process.

Good luck,
HarleyK