Nh4 --> Nitrites?

[wheelyfeet]

I put a Nutrafin Plant Gro Fertlizer Stick (Hagen) under the gravel of my 3 US gallon Eclipse, housing a Betta. This caused my ammonia level to rise to between 4 and 8 ppm. The nitrogen and phosphates in this product are supplied by ammoinium nitrate and ammonium phosphate. I realize that the ammonia is ionized, but will it not be processed into nitrites and then nitrates? Also, is there not some sort of equilibrium that must be maintained between ionized and free ammonia which might cause some of the ionized to convert to free ammonia?

I removed the stick and did an 80% water change. After the change my ammonia level is down, but the nitrites are at 2 ppm. I was about midway through the tank cycle and had been keeping the nitrites down below .50 before I added the stick. I will do another large water change for the sake of the fish. However, I am curious: Is it possible that my nitrite readings also are off because of this product?

I noticed that Hagen no longer has this product on their website.

Thanks to any chemist out there who has some answers.

 

[rdd1952]

I'm not familiar with that product and certainly no chemist but it seems odd that they would make something that would elevate the toxins. The ammonium is ok as it is non toxic but as you said, that will be processed into nitrite which is toxic. It is definitely the source of your elevated levels. It would maybe be ok in a fully cycled tank as the bacteria would catch up pretty quickly but I definitely wouldn't recommend it if you're cycling with fish.