Ammonia But No Nitrites?

[Melava87]

Hi

So my tank is 3 weeks old, I have 3 small mollies and 4 neon tetras. My levels have been great after donor media received at new year so added 2 mollies about a week ago and expected an ammonia spike (which I have got)
However confused with my levels as follows:
Ammonia 0.5
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 5-10
Ph 6.4

My question is why am I seeing no nitrites??

Fish are happy feeding well and very active.

Have just done a 50% water change so will test again in morning

M

 

[benthyer]

Maybe the bacteria that change the nitrite into nitrate are coping fine with the extra load. As your nitrates would suggest that nitrites have been converted.

 

[Melava87]

But I would have thought the ammonia would have to first convert to nitrites before nitrates?
Have grown very attached to my little guys wouldn't want them to become ill

 

[benthyer]

Yes it does but you might be having an ammonia spike which is why they are showing, however you probably have enough bacteria already to handle the bio load for nitrites.

I am still quite new to this myself so may be wrong. Hopefully someone else can correct me or back up my theory

 

[Gruntle]

Keep monitoring your ammonia and nitrites. You might be headed for issues.

 

[b3cca]

Plus the lower PH especially in softer water could mean that the reading you're getting for ammonia NH3 is actually ammonium NH4 as I have found out over the past few weeks whilst trying to cycle my tank which has acidic soft water.
 
Mine went the same way, I only had a brief Nitrite spike and then it always read 0 Nitrite after but I was still getting NH3/NH4 readings.
 
Just have to be patient and keep monitoring it.  If your Nitrates are gradually rising then I would presume your Nitrite must be getting converted.
 
From what I have just experienced in my low PH soft water. My Nitrite bacs actually grew and established faster than my Ammonia ones did