Levels

[maria.madeline22]

hi all, i have had my tank running for a month now and my ammonia levels have come done to 0 with the advice of everyone here so would like to thank you all.
i was under the impression when the ammonia levels go down to 0 my nitrite levels will start to rise but they have not they have remained at 0 throughout but my nitrate levels have risen instead is this right as i am confused again now any advice would be great thank you

 

[maria.madeline22]

please anyone any help have i done something wrong ?

 

[CezzaXV]

How are you cycling your tank? Sorry, your post isn't very clear.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

That is correct. The Nbacs in the filter will convert the nitrites to nitrates. If you tank is cycled properly, you should never see a rise in ammonia or nitrites. Just nitrates

 

[mike1977]

That is correct. The Nbacs in the filter will convert the nitrites to nitrates. If you tank is cycled properly, you should never see a rise in ammonia or nitrites. Just nitrates

that sums it up

 

[maria.madeline22]

i have been doing about 80% water changes everyday only worried cause i have never seen nitrite spike only nitrate
can it completely skip the nitrite spike and still be nearly at the end of its cycle ?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

If there are not nitrites or ammonia on showing on the test, there is no reason to do a water change. What test kit are you using?

 

[maria.madeline22]

api liquid tests - from your last comment does that mean i will always have a nitrate reading ?

 

[the_lock_man]

i have been doing about 80% water changes everyday only worried cause i have never seen nitrite spike only nitrate
can it completely skip the nitrite spike and still be nearly at the end of its cycle ?

It's not really a case of you skipping it, it's that it appears that your N-bacs have grown at a rate which matches that of the production of nitrite by the A-Bacs.

Ordinarily, as your A-bacs grow, they convert the ammonia into nitrite, and your N-bacs can't keep up, so you get the nitrite spike. The fact that you're seeing nitrate increasing shows that there are N-bacs, converting the nitrite into nitrate.

So overall, excellent news!

 

[Dieses Madchen]

And yes, you will always see nitrates in the tank, unless your tank is heavily planted, and even in the case of a heavily planted tank, there may still be low nitrates. (plants eat nitrates) so just as lock man said, this is excellent news for you You can do weekly water changes (but if you are concerned, still monitor your levels, and only do a water change, aside from weekly maintenance, if you see ammonia or nitrites)

 

[maria.madeline22]

well thank you so much sounds like my tank is cycled now i am so happy thank you everyone who has given advice it has helped so much
i will be recommending this forum to anyone who wants to keep fish as i couldn't have done it without you
just the adding fish next lol