Ammonia, Nitrite & Nitrate Confusion

[Faffer1262]

I know this has prob been done to death but my tank is confusing me and Im hoping someone can say what is happening.

My Ammonia levels seem to be between 0 and .5 I do a water change it drops, then builds up again.

My Nitrite levels have allways been 0 never changed from that.

My Nitrate levels start low and go up as they should do.

The tank has been running for about 8 weeks now. Shouldnt my Ammonia be staying at 0 ?

I thought that once the Nitrates start going up then the filter is starting to work? I have I got it all wrong?

I added 6 rummys yesterday, Ammonia and Nitrite were 0 this morning I tested the water and Ammonia had shot up to 2 !!! Nitrite still 0 and Nitrates around 40. I did a 50% water change and within a couple of hours Ammonia was back at 0. Now 7 hours later and Ammonia is back up to .5 Nitrites still 0 so I have done another 50% water change.

Am I doing the right things?

Cheers

 

[KittyKat]

Your filter is not cycled completely yet: there are not enough bacteria which convert ammonia to nitrite. How were you cycling before the addition of fish? What size is the aquarium?

 

[Faffer1262]

Its a 125 litre tank, I have done a fish in cycle as I have just come back to the hobby after many years and didnt know about the fishless cycle (I do now of course DOH!) The LFS wont take the rummys back so want to try and make sure all the fish in the tank survive (about 9 fish including the Rummys) The rummys were added as the ammonia and nitrite had been 0 for a couple of weeks, but I guess it was too much for the filter.
Is the best way to hang onto the fish daily water changes?

 

[KittyKat]

Yes, best way ahead is water changes. If you can get some plants, that will ease the whole process a little. Cut down on the feeding to completely finished in 30 seconds, once per day, one day per week without food.

Generally, I recommend no more than 1-3 new (small) fish per week are added after a fish-in cycle.

 

[Faffer1262]

Ok, the tank is well planted with vallis, sume fluffy stuff, Riccia, and a couple of others, Ive checked the Ammonia this morning which is either 0 or 0.25, hard to tell exactly they wont be fed now for another 5 days as they had some daphnia yesterday. I will do 25% water changes daily and hope for the best

 

[woody88]

Ok, the tank is well planted with vallis, sume fluffy stuff, Riccia, and a couple of others, Ive checked the Ammonia this morning which is either 0 or 0.25, hard to tell exactly they wont be fed now for another 5 days as they had some daphnia yesterday. I will do 25% water changes daily and hope for the best

What test kit you using as on some kits <0.25 usually means it can be read as zero where some others don't.

That little left arrow makes the difference between a positive reading and a negative one on some kits.

How long has the tank been running as if it has been a while then you should'nt really get a reading for Amm or Trite, unless you are over feeding.[Heavy bioload]