Nitrites Vanished

[cookie_db]

So I started my fishless cycle 13 days ago by adding ammonia to my tank. First mistake, added far too much and did a 25% water change on the 4th day which brought them into a more readable level, just under 8ppm. Day 9 I got my first nitrite reading of between 0.5 and 1. Had to top up the ammonia on monday for the first time and have done every day since, 4ppm dropping to between 0.25 and 1 in about 24hrs. Today my nitrite reading is 0. I've tested it twice and it's still the same. Ammonia reading was 1. I've added three plants to my tank, echinodorus bleheri, bacopa amplexicaulis and limnophila heterophylia. The plants also have API root tabs under them. I topped up around a gallon of water yesterday from evaporation with dechlorinated water.

I think that's all you'll need to know. Hope someone can help explain this

Thanx
Dani

 

[rdd1952]

Do you have a reading yet for nitrates? That seems too quick for the nitrite to drop to 0. Also, what type test kit are you using? Strips can be very inaccurate especially if they are exposed to moisture as it will be absorbed and basically make the strip useless. Liquid tests are much better.

 

[GoldLenny]

Test your pH and KH. I've seen where people with low KH water and the nitrifying bacteria consume all of the KH and when it runs out they start to crash. You can try doing a 25% PWC which will oftentimes jumpstart it again... BUT you need to know what your tap/source water baseline is anyhow so fill a gallon bucket with cold tap water (after running it for a minute) and then add your dechlor product. Test the water in the bucket. Wait 48 hours and test again. Post both test results for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, KH and GH.

I'm not sure if adding plants to a fishless cycling tank is a good thing. The plants could be harmed by the high ammonia levels and they will also be consuming the ammonia/nitrites and competing with the N-bacteria colonies you are trying to grow.

Also, I'm not 100% sure that the nitrite reading you got on day 9 was accurate. If you had too much ammonia (8ppm) from the beginning, the tank will not begin to cycle. That level of ammonia is TOO high for the N-bacteria to start off. This is why 4-5ppm is the recommended maximum level.

 

[cookie_db]

I haven't tested my nitrates yet but will do so later. I'm using API mater test kit. I don't have tests for KH or GH so cant test for those. My tap water has pH7.2, no ammonia or nitrite and 15ppm nitrates.
I will test all parameters I can and post my results back in a while.

Thanx
Dani

 

[cookie_db]

Firstly I got my nitrate reading wrong for my tap water, was trying to remember off the top of my head. It's 10ppm not 15.

Anyway here's the results I got from my tank just now.

pH 7
Ammonia between 1 and 2
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

My tank pH when I first set it up was 8 so this has dropped in the past 2 weeks. Temperature of the tank is currently reading 30.8C

Dani

 

[rdd1952]

I'm curious as to where the nitrates went in the tank. Are you running any nitrate removing media or sponges? Things like nitro-zorb and zeolite are supposed to remove nitrate but some of them can also remove ammonia and nitrite. That's not good as it will severely slow the cycling process if not prohibit it all together. I guess it's possible the plants are consuming the nitrate as they do use it but I wouldn't think they would use up that much.

Also, it's best not to top off a tank. During evaporation, only the water leaves the tank. Any impurities in the water are left behind so topping off the tank allows the level of impurities to rise. Just let it stay low and do your normal water changes. Since you don't have any fish and will be doing a big water change in the end, it's not really a problem for you. Just wanted to mention it for future reference.

 

[cookie_db]

I've got just plain media in my filter. I was surprised to see the nitrates had vanished and assumed it would be the plants but not knowing how much they could consume I wasn't sure. I'll bear in mind the topping off for the future. Added more ammonia yesterday afternoon to get it back to 4ppm again. Will be testing this afternoon as this morning is a little hectic. Will post back with my results in case there's a change.

When I topped off my tank the other day I obviously used dechlorinator, seachem prime, could this have affected my results in any way? It's the only thing I can think of.

Thanx
Dani

 

[rdd1952]

Topping off should not have had any effect as long as you used dechlorinator.

 

[cookie_db]

Well finished testing again and am still as confused as before. Ammonia was back down and 0 again after raising to 4 last night but still no nitrites. I'm now on day 16 of my cycle.

Are there any other factors that could be stopping the nitrites rising despite the ammonia being used somewhere?

I have no idea what to do now so any help would be greatly received.

Thanx
Dani

 

[rdd1952]

I'm as confused as you. I don't think there's any way plants could use that much ammonia in a day. It definitely sounds as if there is something like zeolite or nitro-zorb that is pulling the them from the water. Otherwise, you tank would always have at least the 15 ppm of nitrate that your tap water contains. You said you had just plain filter media, what does it look like?

 

[cookie_db]

My filter is the fluval 4 plus. I have two of the foam pads and one polyester in it. They are the ones made for the filter. I still have the carbon in the cupboard, haven't touched it.

Thanx
Dani

 

[rdd1952]

I'm not familiar with those filters but I strongly suspect that one or more of those pads is made to remove nitrite and nitrate and possibly ammonia which would explain your problem.

 

[GoldLenny]

I think you are making things difficult with your fishless cycling by not following the basic instructions.

When you added plants, it changes everything. I'm not sure how big your plants are, how fast they are growing, etc., but they certainly would be consuming some (if not all) of the ammonia (and other nitrogenous compounds) that you are adding to your tank which defeats the purpose of what you are attempting to do by fishless cycling.

Are you planning on keeping the tank as a planted tank? If so, you may not even have to fishless cycle. Planted tanks have a completely different set of dynamics happening than a non-planted tank. Planted tanks do not have to rely as much on the nitrogen cycle in the filtration process because the plants will utilize all of the nitrogenous compounds.

My planted cherry shrimp tank never has a nitrate reading. I still do weekly 25% PWC's to add trace elements and minerals back to the water. I have moderately hard water which is good for inverts.

What size tank do you have, what are your plans for planting and fish stocking? If you are not planning on overstocking the tank and plan on having sufficient plants, then you may not even need to do a fishless cycle.

 

[cookie_db]

http/www.hagen.com/uk/aquatic/product.cf...=01001860030101 foam pads

http/www.hagen.com/uk/aquatic/product.cf...=01001920030101 polyester pads

That's what's in my filter if it helps.

I do plan on planting this tank but as it's my first tank I'll have to see how that goes for now. My tank is 120cm (W) x 40cm (D) x 45cm (H). The fish I want to stock defiantly overstock my tank but I am planning on adding these fish over a period of about 6 months and getting an external filter to run along side my internal. I have one pot of each of the plants mentioned in my first post in this thread.

Thanx
Dani

 

[cookie_db]

Thought I'd test my tank

pH 7.2
ammonia 4ppm
nitrite 0ppm
nitrate between 0 and 5 ppm

Ammonia was raised to 4ppm last night about 8pm. Could a lack of oxygen have anything to do with it? My filter makes the water ripples but not break the surface as such. Would adding an airstone help at all? Or is it time I maybe did a partial water change and see if that helps at all?

Thanx
Dani