I did a 50% water change and rearranged half the tank. I waited a day for things to settal before I tested the water now my nitrites are at .25 ppm. What could cause this. How do I get it back to 0? should I pick up a pack of bio-spira and let the new bacteria take care of it?
cause of a nitrite spike?
- Thread starter hawkeye01
- Start date
perhaps the rearranging did it
If your gravel is dirty, perhaps rearranging the tank stirred up something. Or, if your water has some ammonia in it, or chloramine, you may have disturbed the bacteria in the filter.
Test tap water for ammonia, then use your water conditioner, test for ammonia again. If ammonia appears, then it is the water and water conditioner. Change to a brand that handles chloramine and ammonia.
Otherwise, if it was the gravel, you need to gravel vac more often.
If your gravel is dirty, perhaps rearranging the tank stirred up something. Or, if your water has some ammonia in it, or chloramine, you may have disturbed the bacteria in the filter.
Test tap water for ammonia, then use your water conditioner, test for ammonia again. If ammonia appears, then it is the water and water conditioner. Change to a brand that handles chloramine and ammonia.
Otherwise, if it was the gravel, you need to gravel vac more often.
UGF?
No UGF?
RUGF?
You might've disturbed anaerobic pockets of gravel.
Uneaten food rotting or dead fish / tankmates would cause it.
No UGF?
RUGF?
You might've disturbed anaerobic pockets of gravel.
Uneaten food rotting or dead fish / tankmates would cause it.
Did you test before you cleaned the gravel? If so what was that reading? It might not be due to your cleaning of the gravel. Most likely it is, as others have stated due to the the fact that you have disturbed wastes which were other wise not in contact with the water column. 
rearrange first, then change water
Change water again, next time, rearrange the plants first, then change water.
Change water again, next time, rearrange the plants first, then change water.