Pesky Nitrites

[SlyT]

Hi, my last thread seems to have vanished, so Ill post again.

My Nitrites are still very high. Been Cycling for 6 weeks and ammonia is being processed in under 12 hours. However Nitrites are still off the chart.

The API kit for nitrites is annoying me, as it goes purple in the bottom, but then settles and goes lighter. I understand this is supposed to be off the chart (no mention of this in the API documentation though)

I had bought some fish last weekend as the "off the chart" was pale blue (same as 0).

The LFS gave me a load of mature media and filter gunk which I added to the tank on Sunday. He said that it should take less than a week to bring the Nitrites right down.

I also notice that my water pipes look like they are coated on the inside with brown muck. Should I be cleaning these ?

I am supposed to be collecting my fish back on Sunday and I am concerned that my Nitrites are still so high. Please can someone help me.

Regards

SlyT

 

[backtotropical]

Hi SlyT,

Your previous topic was removed, and I can only imagine it was because of its title.

Here are the replies you had received, to get this topic started again.

Mine were like this for a while, then this morning i found theyd pretty much gone from off the scale to zero overnight...

Hmmm...

How long have you been cycling ?

I am confused as my ammonia is being processed in under 12 hours, and in almost all other examples on thi site, nitrites are almost done...

Hi SlyT,

Its unusual for the "nitrite spike" portion of fishless cycling to last as long as 4 weeks, quite unusual. Are you adding ammonia only at the 24-hour-mark? If you add ammonia in less than 24 hours you can create quite a large backlog of nitrite that the N-Bacs are always trying to work their way through.

~~waterdrop~~

Cheers

BTT

 

[SlyT]

Thanks BTT,

I didnt think the title was offensive but hey ho.

I confirm I am only adding on the 24 hour mark (each night)

Ammonia is now being processed in under 12 hours Dosed at 9pm last night and at 7pm down to zero

What are everyone elses pipes like ? The browny looks horrid compared to the nice clear look from when I set up.

Is there anything I can do to help the Nitrites along ?

Also anyone got any pointers on the API Nitrite kit as I have lost confidance in my ability to read it. If the drops go in blue, then turn purple in the bottom - am I off the chart? I would ideally like to hear from someone about how their tests appear who is not still cycling, or has the nitrites under control. Preferably a description on each stage, adding the drops, before, during and after shaking and then how it changes over the perscribed 5 mins.

SlyT

 

[Geoff1991]

When you are not cycling the drops will go in without going purple, then after shaking it will immediately go light blue.

You can try doing a large water change to get your nitrites to zero then add in more ammonia just so you get a readable level.

 

[SlyT]

I dont think you appreciate How high the nitrites are, based on a crude estimate of putting in less than 25% of the tube as tank water, the rest as fresh, I it looks like they are at over 20ppm.

I did a 50% change last weekend and this didnt help much. I was warned by the LFS not to do too many water changes as this could have an effect on the growth of N-Bacs.

Anyone else ? - Also what about those pipes ?

 

[Geoff1991]

I doubt water changes would hurt anything. Ive done a few over the last week or two due to pH crashes and my nitrites are still being processed.

If your nitrites are that high, there must be a lot of ammonia going into the tank.

You need to appreciate that a 50% water change will only half the amount of nitrite in the water, so it could have reduced the level by half but the nitrites were still of the chart so you couldn't tell.

Test your tap water if you havent already done so and post the stats, and try a larger water change eg: 90%

Also, sorry... What pipes are we talking about here?

 

[SlyT]

Tap water = 0
Pipes = those going to and from filter

Im hoping someone more experianced will come along and advise too, as I dont want to go by just one person. I have a fairly heavily planted 300ltr tank, therefore a 90% water change is a lot more effort and hassle than it sounds...

 

[Geoff1991]

Its probably just algae or something. Ive no idea as ive never used an external filter.

I do know what you mean by a lot of hassle. My tanks planted as well, but if you use a python it doesn't have to be hard work.

EDIT: Yeah, someone more experienced than me will jump in soon and probably solve your problem in one post, but this forums quiet slow in the day, so youll have to give them a few hours before they start to show up.

 

[Dogson]

Oh dear! I've been toppping up Ammonia on the 12 hours mark or there abouts over the last week so I guess thats a no no! should I also do a water change to get them down?

 

[Geoff1991]

Unless theyre above 5ppm, i wouldnt bother. Just switch to dosing at 24 hours.

 

[Dogson]

Its processing the ammonia within the 12 hours but nitrites haven't moved for a week and are off the chart! 24 hour dosing suits me!
Thanks Geoff

 

[lana]

Hi, my last thread seems to have vanished, so Ill post again.

My Nitrites are still very high. Been Cycling for 6 weeks and ammonia is being processed in under 12 hours. However Nitrites are still off the chart.

The API kit for nitrites is annoying me, as it goes purple in the bottom, but then settles and goes lighter. I understand this is supposed to be off the chart (no mention of this in the API documentation though)

I had bought some fish last weekend as the "off the chart" was pale blue (same as 0).

The LFS gave me a load of mature media and filter gunk which I added to the tank on Sunday. He said that it should take less than a week to bring the Nitrites right down.

I also notice that my water pipes look like they are coated on the inside with brown muck. Should I be cleaning these ?

I am supposed to be collecting my fish back on Sunday and I am concerned that my Nitrites are still so high. Please can someone help me.

Regards

SlyT

Nitrites can hang around for some time when cycling they seem to take longer than ammon, to go to 0 in 12 hours
when i cycled my tank my ammon went to 0 in 12 hours and was almost 2 months before nitrites did

Good luck

 

[Geoff1991]

Its processing the ammonia within the 12 hours but nitrites haven't moved for a week and are off the chart! 24 hour dosing suits me!
Thanks Geoff

Mine dropped to zero again yesterday

But then i had a pH crash and my cycle stalled so nothing to report for today.

 

[Dogson]

Well i'll not be topping up ammonia tonight in the hope I can provide the nitrites some relief and just stick to morning top ups!

 

[Zachary1941]

Its processing the ammonia within the 12 hours but nitrites haven't moved for a week and are off the chart! 24 hour dosing suits me!
Thanks Geoff

Mine dropped to zero again yesterday

But then i had a pH crash and my cycle stalled so nothing to report for today.

I asked a few days ago about Nitrites going purple when first drop added and was told its off the chart. Been like that for over 12 days .. Last night tested and great went blue with the first drop and when settled was 0.50 Nirates shot up from 5 to 80.. sp hopefully a few more days and should be on the qualify days.. Its a case of waiting it out ..Cycle has taken now 43 days..I only add ammonia every 24 hours and just check readings on the 12 hour mark Regards Zac