Cycling Advice needed: Confused about Ammonia and Repeating Nitrite Spikes

longtail4711 · 06-27-2010, 03:04 PM

My not-planted 29 gal. tank is almost finished with it's nitrogen cycle, but I have a question:

OK, from my understanding, once I get NitrIte readings I'm supposed to keep adding a little bit of ammonia daily to keep the bacteria fed.

Except every time I do, the NitrItes spike again. Yesterday the readings were:

Amm: 0.25 to 0 ppm
NitrItes: 0.25ppm
NitrAtes: 20ppm

I added about 1/4 of a teaspoon to my 29 gal. tank.

This morning I tested the NitrItes again, and it's back up to 5.0ppm.

Did I get mixed up somewhere? Are there supposed to be repeated nitrIte spikes? From what I read it was supposed to be ONE spike. And I have Nitrate now. Do I stop putting in the ammonia or keep going?

mudpup · 06-27-2010, 08:06 PM

i'm confused, nitrogen cycle and adding ammonia applies to salt water tanks but you said it was a planted tank. is it salt or freshwater

longtail4711 · 06-27-2010, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudpup

i'm confused, nitrogen cycle and adding ammonia applies to salt water tanks but you said it was a planted tank. is it salt or freshwater

Sorry, I said it was a NOT-planted tank and probably should have specified more. It's freshwater. You can do the ammonia cycling method for fresh too.

NursePlaty · 06-27-2010, 10:23 PM

It doesnt just apply to saltwater tanks. Its both fresh and salt. If it doesnt apply to fresh, then no fish would be able to survive in any freshwater community.

I think the reason why you are getting ammonia and nitrite readings is because you keep adding ammonia. It doesnt break down instantly so some lingers. It seems as if your tank has already finished cycling and when you test it, the amount of ammonia you put in hasnt fully broke down fully into nitrate yet and by the time it gets to nitrite, you add more ammonia. I bet you if you wait 1-2 days without adding ammonia, your readings would be 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrite with readings of nitrate.

longtail4711 · 06-29-2010, 02:42 PM

Ok, I shouldn't have worried, everything dropped to zero and the nitrAtes spiked. So the tank is ready now.

I think I was adding too much ammonia, but thankfully it sorted itself out.

NursePlaty · 06-29-2010, 05:44 PM

Good work. Do a big water change to reduce the high nitrAte spike before adding fish.

longtail4711 · 06-29-2010, 07:47 PM

Done and done! I moved the fish over. Two guppies, a plecostomus, and a gourami. I covered their tank with a dark sheet so they could deal with the stress easier.

So far this morning the guppies are having the time of their lives with all the space, the pleco seems happy sucking away at the glass.

The gourami is still hiding and too freaked to come out from under some driftwood except when he needs air.

06-27-2010, 03:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
longtail4711 longtail4711's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 128 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 16 Times Said "Thanks" 13 Times Was Thanked 32 Times in 29 Posts	Cycling Advice needed: Confused about Ammonia and Repeating Nitrite Spikes My not-planted 29 gal. tank is almost finished with it's nitrogen cycle, but I have a question: OK, from my understanding, once I get NitrIte readings I'm supposed to keep adding a little bit of ammonia daily to keep the bacteria fed. Except every time I do, the NitrItes spike again. Yesterday the readings were: Amm: 0.25 to 0 ppm NitrItes: 0.25ppm NitrAtes: 20ppm I added about 1/4 of a teaspoon to my 29 gal. tank. This morning I tested the NitrItes again, and it's back up to 5.0ppm. Did I get mixed up somewhere? Are there supposed to be repeated nitrIte spikes? From what I read it was supposed to be ONE spike. And I have Nitrate now. Do I stop putting in the ammonia or keep going?

06-27-2010, 08:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
mudpup Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 15 Location: Athens, Alabama Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Cycling Advice needed: Confused about Ammonia and Repeating Nitrite Spikes i'm confused, nitrogen cycle and adding ammonia applies to salt water tanks but you said it was a planted tank. is it salt or freshwater

06-27-2010, 10:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
NursePlaty Queen Platy NursePlaty's Photo Gallery Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 931 Name: Annie Pham Location: Dallas Ft Worth, Texas Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 266 Times Said "Thanks" 41 Times Was Thanked 183 Times in 177 Posts	Re: Cycling Advice needed: Confused about Ammonia and Repeating Nitrite Spikes It doesnt just apply to saltwater tanks. Its both fresh and salt. If it doesnt apply to fresh, then no fish would be able to survive in any freshwater community. I think the reason why you are getting ammonia and nitrite readings is because you keep adding ammonia. It doesnt break down instantly so some lingers. It seems as if your tank has already finished cycling and when you test it, the amount of ammonia you put in hasnt fully broke down fully into nitrate yet and by the time it gets to nitrite, you add more ammonia. I bet you if you wait 1-2 days without adding ammonia, your readings would be 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrite with readings of nitrate. __________________ 55gallon Light - 6500K CFL, 23wattsx5 5hr/day Substrate - Red Mexican Clay, Sphagnum Peat moss, Eco-Complete Misc- Pressurized CO2, EI Dose KNO3, KH2PO4, CSM-B Plants -Limnophila Aromatica, Stargrass, Dwarf Hair Grass, Christmas Moss, Baby Tears (HM), Dwarf Baby Tears(HC), Rotala Rotundifolia, Ludwigia Glandulosa, Riccia Fluitans Last edited by NursePlaty : 06-29-2010 at 05:42 PM.

06-29-2010, 02:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
longtail4711 longtail4711's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 128 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 16 Times Said "Thanks" 13 Times Was Thanked 32 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Cycling Advice needed: Confused about Ammonia and Repeating Nitrite Spikes Ok, I shouldn't have worried, everything dropped to zero and the nitrAtes spiked. So the tank is ready now. I think I was adding too much ammonia, but thankfully it sorted itself out.

06-29-2010, 05:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
NursePlaty Queen Platy NursePlaty's Photo Gallery Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 931 Name: Annie Pham Location: Dallas Ft Worth, Texas Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 266 Times Said "Thanks" 41 Times Was Thanked 183 Times in 177 Posts	Re: Cycling Advice needed: Confused about Ammonia and Repeating Nitrite Spikes Good work. Do a big water change to reduce the high nitrAte spike before adding fish. __________________ 55gallon Light - 6500K CFL, 23wattsx5 5hr/day Substrate - Red Mexican Clay, Sphagnum Peat moss, Eco-Complete Misc- Pressurized CO2, EI Dose KNO3, KH2PO4, CSM-B Plants -Limnophila Aromatica, Stargrass, Dwarf Hair Grass, Christmas Moss, Baby Tears (HM), Dwarf Baby Tears(HC), Rotala Rotundifolia, Ludwigia Glandulosa, Riccia Fluitans

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06-29-2010, 07:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
longtail4711 longtail4711's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 128 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 16 Times Said "Thanks" 13 Times Was Thanked 32 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Cycling Advice needed: Confused about Ammonia and Repeating Nitrite Spikes Done and done! I moved the fish over. Two guppies, a plecostomus, and a gourami. I covered their tank with a dark sheet so they could deal with the stress easier. So far this morning the guppies are having the time of their lives with all the space, the pleco seems happy sucking away at the glass. The gourami is still hiding and too freaked to come out from under some driftwood except when he needs air.

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