I Just Got Everything The Way I Wanted It...

[PaulEbs]

Hey there,

I recently [yesterday] changed our 40 gallon tropical community tanks substrate to sand from gravel, today it cleared nicely so I went to the LFS and bought some root tab sticks and a few more plants.

Oh, and I also took our Gibby plec back [got too large for the tank ] but bought a replacement [baby bristlenose plec].

After arranging everything how I wanted it and planting the plants and their root tabs, I released the bristlenose and filled the tank back up [reduced to 75% to aquascape] - then did a water test.

The results showed:

Ph - 7.5
Nitrate - 30/40

BUT

Nitrite - 0.2

Ammonia - around 0.8/1.0

So there's deffinatly something wrong! Please does anyone have any reasoning for this maybe?

What is the best step to take next?

Thank you,

Paul.

 

[d3tained]

I also have this problem currently due to changing to sand.You removed allot of bacteria that was in the gravel.Just keep an I on the water and it should settle down.

 

[PaulEbs]

Thank you for the reassurance.

Should I feed them? Or leave it for a day or two?

I have a smaller coldwater tank with 2 mature filters - if I put one of these in it should speed up the process? Or will the ammonia die down in a couple of days anyway. I'm using a fluval 4+ for the 40 gallon.

Paul.

 

[WILDER]

It's because you have changed your substrate, as you have removed the beneifical bacteria.
Add another filter that should be fine, you have just gone into a mini cycle.