Cycle Reversing?

[ksn269]

I have a new 29 US Gallon tank. I added the water along with BioSperia, Cycle and AquaSafe. I let the tank run empty for three days.

I added the following fish to start the cycle process. I know that most people advocate the “fishless” cycle method, but I chose hardy fish to cycle with.

Mickey Mouse Platies-- 3
Red Wag Tail Platies -- 2
Zebra Danios -- 5

The tank has been running with fish in it now for 3 weeks. I thought things were moving along well. Ammonia & Nitrite levels were declining, and the Nitrate levels were increasing. I have been performing weekly 10% water changes and testing the water every day or two.

Last night, I tested the water and to my total surprise, my Nitrate levels were back at 0ppm?? Other than changing the water, and adding AquaSafe with each change, I have not made any changes to the tank. I have had no fish loss and I assumed I was halfway through the cycle? What would cause such a reversal???

 

[Squid]

What are the ammonia and ammonia and nitrite levels at that point?

 

[@ombomb]

Did you try testing the water more than once?

What tests are you using?

My tap water has around 20ppm Nitrates, so a reading of 0 is unlikely despite the water changs.

 

[rdd1952]

If you let the tank run for 3 days after adding the Bio-Spira and other items, it's possible that most of the bacteria died from lack of a food source (ammonia). I think (haven't used Bio-Spira so just going on what I've read) that you are supposed to add the fish and Bio-Spira at the same time so the fish produce the waste to feed the bacteria.

 

[ksn269]

My apologies, I did add the BioSperia with the fish. I tested the water three times, using three different test vials. I am using the freshwater master test kit (have no idea who makes it). The ammonia levels are around 2.5 ppm and the nitrite levels are around 50 ppm. The nitrate test that I use turns the water blue for 0 ppm and practically black for 50 ppm +. When I tested the water a few days ago, the water was a lavender color around 20 ppm. Last night it was blue.

 

[kris-b-]

Nitrites at 50ppm and ammonia at that level is extremely bad for your fish. You should be performing water changes more often than once a week to try and get these levels down while the bacteria catch up with the bio load.

 

[ksn269]

I will be happy to do more water changes. Still curious as to why the nitrate level dropped.

 

[rdd1952]

My apologies, I did add the BioSperia with the fish. I tested the water three times, using three different test vials. I am using the freshwater master test kit (have no idea who makes it). The ammonia levels are around 2.5 ppm and the nitrite levels are around 50 ppm. The nitrate test that I use turns the water blue for 0 ppm and practically black for 50 ppm +. When I tested the water a few days ago, the water was a lavender color around 20 ppm. Last night it was blue.

I've never seen a nitrite kit that went that high. I think my nitrite kit only goes to 6 ppm. Basically, all of the fish should be dead way before the nitrites reach 50 ppm. Anything over 5 ppm is deadly. Are you sure that is nitrIte and not nitrAte as it is quite normal to have nitrAte levels in the 40 to 50 range, especially after a week or so and before a water change. The ammonia at 2.5 is way too high also, especially if you have a high pH (ammonia becomes more toxic as pH levels increase). You need to do a 30 to 50 percent water change as soon as possible to try to lower the levels. After that, do daily or even twice daily 15 to 25 percent changes to keep lowering the levels. The Bio-Spira definitely doesn't appear to have done anything and may have not been handled properly (may have not been kept refrigerated) thus making it no good. One other question that hasn't been asked yet: are you using dechlorinator? If not the chlorine in your water is probably killing off the bacteria.

 

[ksn269]

Just performed another test with the following results:

PH - 7.0
Ammonia - 2.0 ppm
Nitrate -- 5.0 ppm
Nitrite -- 0 ppm


The BioSperia was refrigerated. The only water treatment product I am using is AquaSafe. Does that de-chlorinate the water? If not is there a product you can recommend?? I will perform a 50% water change tonight. Should I change the filter media as well?? The original media (4 weeks old) is still in the filter.

 

[rdd1952]

Aquasafe is a dechlorinator that neutralizes chlorine and chloramine. I personally prefer Stress Coat because it removes chlorine rather than neutralizes it. Don't change the filter media as that is where the majority of the bacteria colonizes so changing it would create more problems. It sounds as if things have improved since the ammonia is at 2 but the nitrite is at zero. Nitrate isn't a big concern as long as it stays under 80. It can only be removed by water changes as it is the end result of the nitrogen cycle.