Nitrite Dropping - When?

[fishy55]

Well I got excited too soon.

Day 49 at the 12 hour test I have just done 1.0 Nitrite and 1.0 ammonia but pH is a more normal 8.0

So back to watching again and no fish for me yet. Can anyone help please with the questions I have posted about plants above and the earlier ones on the post with the pictures about sand v. fine gravel. Ta

 

[fishy55]

Weekly update. Now on day 56.

The last week has not gone well.

As I said above day 47 and day 48 were double 0s. Kids were very excited thinking that fish would be arriving soon.

I am now on day 56 and have not had another double 0 day since day 48. Day 49 had 1.0 Ammonia and 1.0 Nitrite at the 12 hour test so got very fed up. Every day on days 50 to 56 the AM 12 hour test has been 0 Ammonia and 1.0 Nitrite.

At the 24 hour nitrite test the results have been 49 - 0.5, 50 - 0.0, 51 - 0.0, 52 - too disillusioned to test, 53 - 0.25, 54 - 0.25.

Yesterday, day 55, I changed all the water over. No bicarb added and the pH rose overnight from 7.2 to 7.8. Before the waterchange there was bicarb in the water and the pH was around the 8.0 mark.

Temperature all the time is around 28/29.

Would anyone be able to answer the questions I asked on 9th April, I put on 2 posts 1 had photos of the tank on ???

 

[fishy55]

Well I am now onto day 63 and desperately in need of help advice and encouragement. Please

Day 47 and 48 were double 00's and not to be seen since, that is over 2 weeks. I know they weren't a figment of my imaginations as written in my note book, but am beginning to think now that it was just a trick. I knew to expect stumbles, but that is more of a trip causing concussion followed by a trip to A and E.

I last posted on day 56 and not much has changed since. At each 12 hour test ammonia is 0.0 (except one day in the last week)and at the same test nitrite has been purple so 1.0, and on most days nitirite is still present at the 24 hour test. I added some bicarb to raise the ph from 7.6 to around 8.0. Temperature is still around 28/29.

I changed all (95% ish) of the water a week ago, and used prime to condition the replaced water.

I am getting completely fed up with this now, I want some fish, any suggestions please before I throw the tank out the window.

 

[Enna]

Hello Fishy, you must be feeling really frustrated by now but hang on in their it's worth it in the end!

There are people much more qualified than me to answer your water questions on here. But about the sand/gravel, I started with gravel then after reading on the forum that sand is better for cory's I decided to change. Yes it was a bit of a messy job but I had fish to deal with too, must be far less of a concern without them. I'm so pleased I changed it, the cory's LOVE sand, I could see a difference in their behaviour after and I love to watch them slurping it up and then it comes out of the back of the gills in a nice neat little heap, very amusing. I'm sure lots of fish live happily with gravel, but I'm pleased I made the swap.

 

[fishy55]

Enna,

Thanks for your response. I will definitely think about swapping to sand. How do you get on cleaning the sand, do you use a gravel cleaner or is it best to clean sand in some other way? Are plants okay in sand?

Fishy55

 

[Enna]

I bought the B&Q natural kiln dried sand (I wanted a slightly darker look than the playsand), washed it bit by bit in a bucket (sand/gravel cleaning surely has to be one of the worst jobs), removed everything inc water then put in sand and everything else back. I've still to perfect my sand cleaning technique and end up with sand in the bucket, but there was plenty of sand left over in the bag so I'm not too concerned. I use a normal gravel cleaner and sort of swish it over the surface of the sand, remembering to switch off the filter first. I do find the end of my gravel cleaner is to big to get inbetween rocks and plants well, I'm wondering if there is one with a smaller head to get into small places. My plants are doing fine too.

 

[fishy55]

Here is my log to date (it's very long)

0 added 4ml AMM
1 am
pm
2 am Ammonia 4
pm
3 am
pm Ammonia 3
4 am
pm Ammonia 3 added 50ml cycle
5 am
pm Ammonia 3
6 am Ammonia 3
pm Ammonia 3 added 20ml cycle
7 am Ammonia 3
pm Ammonia 2-3
8 am Ammonia 2-3 Nitrite 0.25 added 20ml cycle
pm
9 am Ammonia 2
pm
10 am Ammonia 2 Nitrite 1
pm
11 am Ammonia 2 Nitrite 1
pm
12 am Ammonia 1 Nitrite 1
pm
13 am Ammonia 1
pm Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite >5 NI drops went purple – added 4ml AMM
14 am Ammonia 3
pm Ammonia 1-2 Nitrite >5 NI drops went purple
15 am Ammonia 0-0.25 Nitrite >5 NI drops went purple
pm added 4ml AMM
16 am Ammonia 0.5
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite >5 NI drops went purple – added 4ml AMM
17 am Ammonia 1
pm Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite >5 NI drops went purple – added 4ml AMM
18 am Ammonia 0.5
pm Ammonia 0-0.25 Nitrite >5 NI drops went purple – added 4ml AMM
19 am Ammonia 0-0.25 Nitrite >5
pm Ammonia 0-0.25 Nitrite >5 NI drops went purple – added 4ml AMM
20 am Ammonia 0-0.25 Nitrite ??
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite ?? added 4ml AMM
21 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite ?? Nitrate 5-10 PH 7.6
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite ?? added 4ml AMM
22 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite ?? PH 7
pm added 4ml AMM
23 am
pm Nitrite ?? added 4ml AMM after changing ½ water
24 am Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite ??
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite ?? added 4ml AMM
25 am Ammonia 1 Nitrite ??
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite ?? added 4ml AMM
26 am Ammonia 0
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.25 added 4ml AMM – NI Drops went blue
27 am Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 1
pm Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 0 added 4ml AMM
28 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0-0.25 Nitrate 10 PH 7.2
pm Ammonia 0-0.25 Nitrite 0 added 4ml AMM
29 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.25
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 added 4ml AMM
30 am Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 0-0.25
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 added 4ml AMM
31 am Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 0
pm Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 0 added 4ml AMM
32 am Ammonia 1 Nitrite 0-0.25
pm Ammonia 0.5-1 Nitrite 0 added 4ml AMM
33 am Ammonia 1-2 Nitrite 0
pm Ammonia 1 Nitrite 0 No AMM added
34 am Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 0
pm Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 0 added 4ml AMM
35 am Ammonia 1-2 Nitrite 0.5 Nitrate 10-20 PH 6
pm Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 1 added 4ml AMM and 1tbsp bicarb
36 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 PH 8
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 PH 7.8 added 4ml AMM
37 am Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 0.25
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 added 4ml AMM
38 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 PH 8 added 4ml AMM
39 am Ammonia 1 Nitrite 1
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.25 PH 8 added 4ml AMM
40 am Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 1
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 PH 8.8 added 4ml AMM
41 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 PH 7.4
pm Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 20 added 4ml AMM
42 am Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 2 PH 7 Added 1 tbsb bicarb
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 PH 7.6 added 4ml AMM
43 am Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 1 PH 7.4 Changed 95% of water
pm Nitrite 0 PH 7 added 4ml AMM
44 am Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 1 PH 7.2
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.25 PH 7.6 added 4ml AMM
45 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.25 PH 7.6
pm Nitrite 0 added 4ml AMM
46 am Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 1 PH 7.2 added ½ tbsb bicarb
pm Nitrite 0 PH 8 added 4ml AMM
47 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0
pm Nitrite 0 PH 8.4 added 4ml AMM
48 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0
pm Nitrite added 4ml AMM
49 am Ammonia 1 Nitrite 1 PH 8
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.5 added 4ml AMM
50 am Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 1 PH 8.2
pm Nitrite 0 added 4ml AMM
51 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1
pm Nitrite 0 PH 8.4 added 4ml AMM
52 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1
pm added 4ml AMM
53 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0.25 PH 8 added 4ml AMM
54 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1
pm Nitrite 0.25 Nitrate 10 added 4ml AMM
55 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 PH 8 Changed 95% of water – used prime
pm Nitrite 0 PH 7.2 added 4ml AMM
56 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 PH 7.6
pm Nitrite 0 PH 8 added 4ml AMM
57 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1
pm Nitrite 0 added 4ml AMM
58 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 PH 8
pm Nitrite 0.25 added 4ml AMM
59 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 PH 7.6 added 1 tbsb bicarb
pm Nitrite added 4ml AMM
60 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 PH 8
pm Nitrite 0.25 added 4ml AMM
61 am Ammonia 1 Nitrite 1
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 PH 8 added 4ml AMM
62 am Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 1
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 PH 7.6 added 4ml AMM
63 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1
pm Nitrite 0.25 added 4ml AMM
64 am Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 PH 8
pm Nitrite 1 added 4ml AMM
65 am Ammonia 0.5 Nitrite 5 PH 7.6
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 Changed 75% water + prime added 4ml AMM
66 am Ammonia 0.25 Nitrite 5 PH 7.2
pm Ammonia 0 Nitrite 1 PH 7.2 added 4ml AMM and 1 tbsb bicarb

The table doesn't seem to have gone onto the post very well. Hope it's good enough, as threatened it is very long!!

Where I have put ??? it is because I don't believe the nitrite I have written down, as I didn't understand what the drops going purple meant. As from day 26 drops went blue initially.

Filter is a fluval u2. I am going on holiday in one month and need to decide what to do, carry on with fishless and what to do when I am away (nothing, fish food or holiday block) or put fish in now to give them a few weeks to settle before going.

I have just cleaned a lot of brown gunk off the ceramic media (using fingers and tank water).

Have just added another tablespoon of bicarb because a loose trend seems to be the higher the PH the lower the nitrite. Temp is always around 28/29 - it won't go any higher.

 

[waterdrop]

I just realized, where are your nitrate(NO3) readings? You need at least enough of these to see some "trend" and to see whether or not nitrate might be shooting high enough to slow N-Bac growth and processing. If it comes off this latest nitrite spike and drops quickly in to zeros then a switch to fish-in might be considered (IF you had people willing to do the odd water change or two while they were caring for your fish while you were away.) Otherwise a method that's often better is to just have someone rather occasionally squirt in a set amount of ammonia, perhaps every third day or something, which would maintain things until you got home.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[fishy55]

Thanks for that.


Results for day 67 at the 12 hour am test were Ammonia 1, Nitrite 5 and at the pm (24 hour test) Ammonia 0.25, Nitrite 5.00. PH 8.0. So still high and that is 2 days after a 75% water change and bicarb fuelling. Oh well will wait and see what happens. Am hoping will sort soon, but if not will do something for getting ammonia into the water when we go away.

Have just tested nitrAte and its 80. That is four hours after adding the ammonia, if that can affect the results. Prior to this the nitrate has only ever been 10 or 20, I last tested this on day 54 and got 10. Tap water is around the 5-10 mark. I changed over 75% of the water two days ago (day 65).

Thanks again.

Fishy55.

 

[fishy55]

Hi all,

I have just done the day 68 12 hour tests, Ammonia 0.5. Nitrite 5+. The drops in the bottom of the nitrite tube go purple with blue around the edges. As this is both blue and purple does it mean off the scale or not? I know in the long run it doesn't make much difference, it is just high!!

My plan at the weekend is to change all the water and thoroughly wash the gravel (maybe changing it for sand) and then see what happens. Can anyone give me any more pointers on what I could do?

Fishy55.

 

[fishy55]

Had nitirite in the day 67 24 hour test of about 5 and also ammonia of 0.25. Nitrate 80

Have just done the day 68 12 hour test, nitirite 5, ammonia 0.50. Definitely doing that large water change tomorrow.

Can someone advise me how to edit posts, I don't seem to have an edit button, and am obviously aware that now I have posted all the readings as opposed to just summaries it is best to keep them all on one thread. Also I am not allowed to start topics or even post on any forum section except for "your new freshwater tank". Why is this?

Thanks to all

Fishy55

 

[waterdrop]

Your status says "validating" which means you never responded to the email when you established your account so the forum software can know you are a real person and not a piece of software or something. It may have been caught in your spam catcher.

WD

 

[fishy55]

Today is day 78 and for the first time in quite a while I have just had double 00's at the 12 hour test. Lets hope it stays that way.

On day 69 I changed all the water, and I mean all, I took out every last drop and changed the pea gravel to play sand. The nitrate started going up again very quickly and had raised from 10-20 on day 69 immediately after the water change to 40 12 hours later. My ph started dropping again a couple of days ago, so I added 1 tablespoon of bicarb and it did the trick.

thanks WD for the advice about "validating", I have now sorted that problem.

I am looking forward to fish now, but lets hope I'm not getting too excited too soon.

Some of the fish on my "wanted" list need a 6 month mature tank, but does this time start counting from day 1 of fishless cycling or day 1 of first putting fish in In my case this cycle has taken so long and if I leave adding fish until a week or two after my short hols it will be 4 months since the start anyway.

My stocking plan (currently) is 6 each of panda corys/some kind of tetra/male guppies and 2 dwarf gouramis along with live plants. Does anyone have any advice about that combination in my tank? I am looking for pretty, interesting and contrasting community fish. I don't particulary want to deal with babies and would like some fish on each level of my tank. The only one of that lot I am 100% on is some type of cory, especially as I have changed the substrate from gravel to sand for their benefit already. I also quite like harlequins.

For a reminder the tank if a fluval roma 90, which holds around 80 litres of water (18 imp gallons, 22 US gallons) and has a fluval u2 filter running. The tap water ph is around 6.6.

Thanks to all of you again.

Fishy55

 

[Gary D]

Hello Fishy,
Well done
I thought you had gone quiet for a few days!

Interesting about your tap water PH. I thought that the water around here was generally quite hard? Our's is reading 7.8/7.9 from the tap??

Gary.

PS We are now getting 0 Ammonia about 24 hours after dosing. Just waiting for the nitrites now. Tank PH is always 7.8 - 8.0??

 

[fishy55]

You must have a superior water supply in your part of town

Keep an eye on that tank water ph, I have found mine to drop very quickly to 6.0, the first time this happened I hadn't been testing the ph so wondered why I was getting 2.0 ammonia at the 24 hour test. As I understand at lower ph levels, the bacteria slow down considerably, going into hibernation at around the 6.0 mark. Get the bicarbonate of soda out of the kitchen cupboard and give it a new home in the fish cupboard. It brings it back up great. Per Water Drop around 1 tablespoon to 50l. One heaped tablespoon in my 80l seems to do the trick.

I did sent you a pm on this forum with my news earlier, did you get it?

Fishy55