Uh Oh... Some fish died!

No, switching your powerheads to reverse flow shouldn't have started a nitrite peak. The nitrite peak is a natural part of the cycle... as you said before, keep on top of the continual water changes, and the rest of your fish should be able to pull through. Keep in mind, nitrite consuming bacteria take a bit more time to establish than ammonia consuming bacteria.

HTH
-Richer
 
Thanks Rich,

One thing I forgot to ask...

Is it best to do a massive water changes to bring the level down right away, or keep with my 25-50% daily change?


I just did a 75% change, and it dropped the nitrite to 1.0


Thanks,

H.
 
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Put some of your tap water in a bowl, and let it sit overnight, then do a pH test on it. If the pH of the tap water is simliar to that of your tank water (which if you do many water changes regularly, it should be), then go ahead and do daily 50% or higher water changes. Just make sure the water going into the tank is simliar in temperature as the tank.

I do 40-50% water changes at least once a week, and I wouldn't hesitate doing a much larger one if the need arises.

HTH
-Richer
 
I'm on my own well and it has tested clean right out of the faucet.
And I always make sure it's near the same temperature as the aquarium.

One advantage of having your own well: you don't have to worry about chlorine etc... :D

I'll stick with the 50% changes and see what happens.

Thanks for all the help!

H.
 
He's not talking about chlorine, he's talking about CO2.

When carbon dioxide dissolves in water a small amount makes carbonic acid which further dissociates into bicarbonate and carbonate. This process decreases pH.

If your water is not in equilibrium with the atmosphere, the pH will change as it equilibrates. This experiment tells you the pH of the water you're really adding to your tank, which may differ from that of the tap.
 
WOO HOO!!

Finally... It would seem the tank cycled.
All readings are now zero, and have been holding that way for about a week now, and I haven't lost any more fish.


:D :D

And Wow... what a crystal clear tank!


H.
 
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