My tank has been cycled for about 3 weeks and I am suddenly having a nitrite spike. I added a new dwarf algae eater two days ago and yesterday when I tested my water it showed levels near 3.0 so I did a 20% water change. Today when I got home I tested the water again and it was now up in the 5.0 range. I did a 40% water change immediately but I am afraid I am about to start loosing some fish. What could be causing this? Any suggestions on what to do?
Nitrite
- Thread starter snflwr78
- Start date
What are the other readings ? are there Rites in the water source ? it sounds like it may not be cycled yet....
nitrate is registering at 20 and for whatever reason the test strips don't have an amonia reading. The folks at PetSmart assured me I was done cycling, but the more I read these boards the more I realize it's silly to trust lps employees... I will feel horrible if I added a new fish in the middle of a cycle!
It is widely recommended to use an API LIQUID TEST KIT..they are more accurate than the strips, ..........:frog:
First go invest in a good liquid test kit (API Master Freshwater kit) ... Strips are not the most accurate and like you said you dont even have an ammonia test....but sounds to me like you were not fully cycled when you added fish.
For now continue with the water changes and get nitrites as low as you can (.25 or less) until you can get a good test kit and get a handle on where your cycle stands.
For now continue with the water changes and get nitrites as low as you can (.25 or less) until you can get a good test kit and get a handle on where your cycle stands.
I thought that there would be no nitrate present if a tank was still cycling, but guess I was wrong. I will buy the liquid tests very soon.
If the tank is indeed done cycling however, what else could cause the spike? And to think, a few short weeks ago I thought owning a fish tank was as easy as buying the tank, filling it up, and dumping in some fish haha.
If the tank is indeed done cycling however, what else could cause the spike? And to think, a few short weeks ago I thought owning a fish tank was as easy as buying the tank, filling it up, and dumping in some fish haha.
Ammo gets turned into Rites, and Rites get turned into Rates, did you have any fish parish lately, it is common to see a rite spike during cycleing.....
OK not to pester, but this morning I realized my ph is rising in addition to the nitrite. In another post I mentioned I was using a 6.5 buffer, and although I only have the unreliable test strips at the moment, it is reading at 7.2 and the nitrate is still at 20. So my 2 main questions are...
OK so not to pester, but this morning I noticed my ph is going up in addition to the nitrite spike. I mentioned in a different post that I have been using a 6.5 buffer, and although I only have the unreliable test strips, it is registering at 7.2. Nitrite is still 20. So my 2 main questions are...
1. Does it mean anything when both nitrite and ph have risen?
2. Can an uncycled tank have 20ppm nitrate reading?
1. Does it mean anything when both nitrite and ph have risen?
2. Can an uncycled tank have 20ppm nitrate reading?