Fish-in Cycle (day 16)

[fatheadminnow]

Waterdrop,

I did a big water change and I siphoned the gravel big time, and the NO3 went down along with the Ammonia and the NO2. I though the NO3 was the 'good' bacteria, and after the water change, it went down to 5 ppm from 10 ppm, is that normal? I though I wanted to build up the NO3 bacteria?

Thanks!

Gus

NO3, nitrate, is the end product in the nitrogen cycle. Nitrate is not a bacteria, but a product produced by the bacteria. There are two different types of bacteria that colonize in our filters. The first type of bacteria "eat" ammonia. When they "eat" or processes ammonia, ammonia then turns into nitrite. The second type of bacteria that colonize in our filters process nitrite. When nitrite is processed by this second type of bacteria, nitrite then turns into nitrate. So, you see nitrate is a product produced from bacteria, it is not bacteria itself.

-FHM

 

[Truck]

just to add to the respiration thing, even so we do still breath out nitrogen and oxygen and a few other gasses when ex haling

 

[Gustavo]

Waterdrop,

I did a big water change and I siphoned the gravel big time, and the NO3 went down along with the Ammonia and the NO2. I though the NO3 was the 'good' bacteria, and after the water change, it went down to 5 ppm from 10 ppm, is that normal? I though I wanted to build up the NO3 bacteria?

Thanks!

Gus

NO3, nitrate, is the end product in the nitrogen cycle. Nitrate is not a bacteria, but a product produced by the bacteria. There are two different types of bacteria that colonize in our filters. The first type of bacteria "eat" ammonia. When they "eat" or processes ammonia, ammonia then turns into nitrite. The second type of bacteria that colonize in our filters process nitrite. When nitrite is processed by this second type of bacteria, nitrite then turns into nitrate. So, you see nitrate is a product produced from bacteria, it is not bacteria itself.

-FHM

Ahhhhhhh (ding ding ding ding ding!!) Thanks! Great explanation, I was getting worried that I did something wrong!

Gus

 

[discus_lover]

your ammonia,nitrite,ph levels are too high..do partial water change in this period...

 

[fatheadminnow]

your ammonia,nitrite,ph levels are too high..do partial water change in this period...

A pH of 7.2 is just fine, no need to bother with this.

I believe the user is doing a fish-in cycle.

-FHM

 

[discus_lover]

ph 7.2 is finemay be ,but in india the aquarium hobbists generally try to keep ph below 7...

 

[fatheadminnow]

ph 7.2 is finemay be ,but in india the aquarium hobbists generally try to keep ph below 7...

Yes, a 7.2 pH is just fine, if not a little low.

The pH in my Cichlid tank is around 8.0, and that is perfect!

-FHM