Sudden NitrIte Spike - No Ammonia

Rocketman

Rocketman

Detroit; proud of it.
Oct 24, 2002
740
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Detroit, MI
Real Name
Reid
Hey. I have this 60 Gallon tank which I thought had cycled. I have rocks and live plants from a cycled tank in there though. Anyway, I was unable to test for anything for awhile, as I was out of town. I added fish to it this weekend (1-18-03), becuase the tank had been setup since... 12-25-02. Whenever I had tested, I got back 0 Ammonia and NitrItes, but my NitrAte kit didnt come from Big Al's, so I wasnt able to test those. Either way, I got those 0 - 0 readings up untill today (1-22-03.) I got a 5 ppm NitrIte reading, but still have not seen any Ammonia. I added 5 Giant Danios, 6 Scissor Tail Tetras, 4 Cories, 4 Small Bala's, 4 Cardinal Tetras (All they had,) and kept two guppies previosly in the tank for the last few days. All are still alive except one cory, who never looked to good. Anyway, The last time I had tested was Saturday, (1-18-03) when I bought the fish. So what could have caused, in 4 days, the NitrItes to go all the way up but with no sign of Ammonia? Hm.
 
Really? Good deal. So what does this mean? Is the cycle complete, and are the bacteria well established? Something just occured to me though. If plants consume ammonia, how do the bacteria meant to devolop on the ammonia and consume nitrites form? Its been a long time since I had a good look at my Nitrogen Cycle, so be nice.
 
Your bacteria isnt developed.

Most likely you tested in the afternoon, correct?

Heres my theory.

During the night the fish produced quite a bit of ammonia, you have a small population of bacteria in your tank, and the bacteria converted maybe half the ammonia into nitrites.

When the lights came on, the plants consumed the avaliable ammonia.
 
Yup, afternoon, (4 pm.) What should I do though? If the ammonia is what kills the fish, and thats getting absorbed, I don't think im in too much trouble, minus the high nitrites.
Leavin for a water change.
 
Nitrites are just as toxic as ammonia, maybe even more toxic.

Id just watch the fish, and if they seem to be in respiritory distress do a water change.
 
Alright, sounds like a good plan. Im ok for adding more plants this weekend though right?
 
Thanks. So, besides water changes, I don't need to do anything else, I assume. I tested nitrites today, (slept in, was already late for school and couldn't do it in the morning,) so I had to do it in the afternoon, although I left the lights off. They appear to have dropped to 1, or maybe 2, (from 5,) but the colors look so similiar it is difficult to tell.
Ammonia still 0, and, (for the curious,) pH is 7.4, KH 5, and GH 7 or 8.
 
Originally posted by slipknottin
Your bacteria isnt developed.

Most likely you tested in the afternoon, correct?

Heres my theory.

During the night the fish produced quite a bit of ammonia, you have a small population of bacteria in your tank, and the bacteria converted maybe half the ammonia into nitrites.

When the lights came on, the plants consumed the avaliable ammonia.
Click to expand...

Jolly good! I say, Poirot, that's really using the little grey cells!"
 
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