Question about nitrite spikes and why they dont make sense.

[AnDr3w]

If ammonia is turned to nitrite and nitrite is turned to nitrate, how can you have JUST an ammonia spike. I've read about overfeeding and medinces but how can you just jump to nitrite without going to ammonia first?

 

[aquanaut]

1... an ammonia spike is caused by the lack of bacteria to turn it into nitrite.

2... the only time I heard of a nitrite spike not preceded by an ammonia spike was in a friends pond after a sudden cold spell.

 

[johnptc]

If ammonia is turned to nitrite and nitrite is turned to nitrate, how can you have JUST an ammonia spike. I've read about overfeeding and medinces but how can you just jump to nitrite without going to ammonia first?

new tank......

clean water......
fish give off ammonia....... ammonia spike

bacteria develope and break the ammonia to nitrite
ammonia goes down nitrite spikes.........

bacteria develope breaking the nitrire to nitrate which slowly rises until you do a water change..........


if the bacteria are present that break down the ammonia and not the next batch of bacteria.....the ammonia stays at zero and nitrite will spike

 

[AnDr3w]

Ok I know the cycle but I jus thought it didn't make sence to have a cycled tank have a nitrite spike.

 

[johnptc]

Ok I know the cycle but I jus thought it didn't make sence to have a cycled tank have a nitrite spike.

the second batch of bacteria grow slower and ammonia inhibit their growth....so for a cycled tank you may add fish or uneaten food and have it converted to nitrites faster than the second batch of bacteria can keep up converting to nitrates and have a nitrite spike.