Will the clay pot in my tank have an effect on my nitrites?

[NJ Devils Fan]

Today, when my cousin came over to hook up my new u.v., he said that maybe tomorrow, if there are still nitrites, I should take out the clay pot I have in the tank. He thinks that maybe the pot is affecting the cycle because it is still not done yet after a month. I don't think that it will do anything.

[Cichlid Woman]

Clay pots are usually fine to use in tanks (if they've never been used to hold houseplants, and thus could contain chemicals from the soil, etc.). I don't think they affect nitrites at all. Is your tank cycling? The ammonia spike should be followed by a nitrite spike, which will be followed by nitrates. Could that explain your nitrites?

-- Pat

[valerie]

is this the same tank that is fishles cycling since last month?What are your nitrite readings?

I highly doubt that the pot has anyhting to do with it.

[NJ Devils Fan]

Yes, it's the same tank, 1 month of cycling as of yesterday. When I first take the test, the color is around 1, but then goes to .50, then to .25 in a few minutes time. It's been doing the same thing for about 2 weeks now. I haven't had ammonia in a little over 2 weeks.

No, the pot was never used before.