I Think I Depleted My Bacteria

[BubbleBaby]

OK, so I probably did something really stupid.... I cleaned the filter tube on my 36 gallon and so the NI, NA and AM rose. I did like a 12% water change but I think I'm going to do another one. the tank stats are currently( NIretty close to zero, NA:5.0, AM:.25) just a second ago I added an Aqua Clear Ammonia remover and the tank is cloudy, so I'm thinking that the bacteria is trying to build itself back up. ? Does anyone know what I should do to stabalize the tank. I wanted to put some rams in that tank but, I am defanitely waiting a couple of weeks. My tank has been cycled for 8 months and currently I have 3 guppies and 3 tetras (there are more tetras but I moved some because they were dull and I was afraid of disease).


I have had tanks for a long time but it seems like I can't get the hang of it.... any helpful hints?

Please help- Thank you

 

[Corleone]

Probably just a minicycle. It can happen with a thorough cleaning - either you did kill some bacteria or you just stirred up some waste that wasn't decaying before. Do a bigger water change and test again in a few hours, doing another if there's still readings. If nitrate is still rising, you've still got bacteria there processing ammonia. Just test daily and do a water change if there's ammonia.

 

[kj23502]

I would test a few times a day to be safe. Do as many water changes as nec. to keep ammonia and nitrite under .25 ppm. If it means 2 50% changes, then do it. It won't hurt the cycle. It may slow it a little bit, but if you don't do it, it WILL hurt your fish. Ammonia litterally burns them and nitrite will suffocate them. Not trying to scare you, but that's why you need to keep control of it. Sounds like a bad way to die

I had a mini-cycle w/my 125 gallon tank a few months back and for a few days I was changing 50% twice a day. It didn't last too long and I didn't lose any fish. Make sure you are using a liquid test kit and NOT the dipstrips. The strips can be REALLY inaccurate.

 

[BubbleBaby]

I would test a few times a day to be safe. Do as many water changes as nec. to keep ammonia and nitrite under .25 ppm. If it means 2 50% changes, then do it. It won't hurt the cycle. It may slow it a little bit, but if you don't do it, it WILL hurt your fish. Ammonia litterally burns them and nitrite will suffocate them. Not trying to scare you, but that's why you need to keep control of it. Sounds like a bad way to die

I had a mini-cycle w/my 125 gallon tank a few months back and for a few days I was changing 50% twice a day. It didn't last too long and I didn't lose any fish. Make sure you are using a liquid test kit and NOT the dipstrips. The strips can be REALLY inaccurate.

I have a liquid test kit. I have had an on going problem with Nitrites and I don't know why? I don't have a problem with Ammonia usually and I wanted to know haow to keep the nitrites from popping up. I'm wondering if a 10% change per week is too small,and I use the vacuum every time.... what do you guys do?

 

[Corleone]

I'd step up the water changes - I do 20% a week as a minimum. Though if nitrite is still appearing after so long, your filter may be underperforming for the volume. What kind of filter and what's its gph? I wouldn't think it's an overstock problem, since from your first post you've hardly got any fish in there for 36 gallons.

Edit: Also, make sure you're not confusing nitrIte with nitrAte. NitrAte is normal, and relatively harmless in the levels you'll get, even with 10% weekly water changes.

 

[BubbleBaby]

I'd step up the water changes - I do 20% a week as a minimum. Though if nitrite is still appearing after so long, your filter may be underperforming for the volume. What kind of filter and what's its gph? I wouldn't think it's an overstock problem, since from your first post you've hardly got any fish in there for 36 gallons.

Edit: Also, make sure you're not confusing nitrIte with nitrAte. NitrAte is normal, and relatively harmless in the levels you'll get, even with 10% weekly water changes.

The bad thing is I wasn't confusing them ..... I know it's bad for my tank to have them. I've been logging the stats of my tank since may 24th and since may 24th my nitrites have been back and forth 0, .25, and .50...... could my gravel be to thick or something .......My gravel isn't fine at all, maybe the food and poop is getting really far down there. My NitrAtes are always 5.0 or lower. Anybody have any Idea...oh and I also have two filters..... whats happening!!!!? I just want it to be easier than it is now...

 

[kj23502]

Your water changes would be fine at 10% a week imo....if you weren't having issues w/water quality. I do about 30% every 2 weeks in my 125 gallon tank w/18ish fish and never have any probs.

I have no idea why you'd have nitrites...other than the obvious ammonia is being processed but it's getting stuck on the next step.

My gravel is about 3" thick on my 29 gallon. I don't think that would cause it.
What kind of filters do you have?

 

[BubbleBaby]

Your water changes would be fine at 10% a week imo....if you weren't having issues w/water quality. I do about 30% every 2 weeks in my 125 gallon tank w/18ish fish and never have any probs.

I have no idea why you'd have nitrites...other than the obvious ammonia is being processed but it's getting stuck on the next step.

My gravel is about 3" thick on my 29 gallon. I don't think that would cause it.
What kind of filters do you have?

My filters are a Penguin bio wheel 100 and another power filter that I'm pretty sure is a whisper......I don't know what kind of whisper though... The whisper just came with the tank.... Are those ok?

 

[kj23502]

The 100 is for a 20 gallon tank and I have no idea what the second would be withouth knowing the model. Does it say it anywhere on it? What size filters do you buy for it? Did you change your cartridges in the filters recently? Biowheels are thought to be good filtration

 

[BubbleBaby]

The 100 is for a 20 gallon tank and I have no idea what the second would be withouth knowing the model. Does it say it anywhere on it? What size filters do you buy for it? Did you change your cartridges in the filters recently? Biowheels are thought to be good filtration

I tried to see if the name was on it anywhere.......I'll try again. Umm... It uses large bio bag filter cartridges. I changed the whisper filter but I didn't change the bio wheel filter because I alternate so the bacteria wouldn't die. I just checked the filter again and I can't find a name on it...... sorry...but its all black with a clear tube...and it hangs over the edge of the tank.
-thanks