Nitrite & Ph Problems

[fatheadminnow]

Have you ever cleaned, or checked to see if your filter flow is still sufficient?

It could be getting clogged a little, and that could be a reason why your nitrites are still high.

You could rinse it out in tank water, and make sure everything is functioning properly. Yes, on Apr. 17, when I did a 60% wc, I removed the HOB, left the bio-wheels in the tank, and thoroughly cleaned it in tap water.

Have you also been checking the pH? It is steady at 7.2+

This morning, 22 hours after dosing ammonia to 4ppm, nitrates were at .25.

Ranjohns

Do you mean you cleaned the filter media in Tank water? Not tap water?

-FHM

 

[ranjohns]

Do you mean you cleaned the filter media in Tank water? Not tap water?

-FHM
[/quote]

My HOB is a Marineland Penguin Power Filter 350B. I put the bio wheels in the tank, rinsed the filters in tank water and cleaned the plastic housing in tap water. Sorry for any confusion.

Ranjohns

 

[fatheadminnow]

Oh, okay...lol.

Is this also your first reading for nitrAte?

-FHM

 

[waterdrop]

And when you did that water change we assume you gravel cleaned, right?

-wd-

 

[ranjohns]

Oh, okay...lol.

Is this also your first reading for nitrAte?

-FHM

Confusion reigns. I meant to type "nitrites" were .25.

I haven't checked nitrates in a week or so. But, through all of the up and downs, nitrates remained steady at 40ppm.

Ranjohns

And when you did that water change we assume you gravel cleaned, right?

-wd-

WD, I cleaned the gravel as much as I could. It is more of a vac just above the gravel-level plants, of the wood and to catch whatever is floating. The substrate is pretty crowded as the tank is fully planted. Last week I pulled the wood, scrubbed and washed it in tap water and soaked it in dechlorinated water. Before returning it to the tank I vac'ed more of the substrate than I would have otherwise been able to.

Ranjohns

 

[ranjohns]

The substrate, without a doubt, could be cleaner; but, short of pulling the wood, I risk, with a closer pass of the vac, damaging the plants. The foreground is planted with teardrops; the rest with a variety of stem plants and swords. Any suggestions as to a path to cleaner substrate?

Thanks,

Ranjohns

 

[fatheadminnow]

As long as you are doing as good as you can, you will be fine.

Also, are you adding ammonia back up to 4 ppm every 12 or 24 hours/

-FHM

 

[ranjohns]

As long as you are doing as good as you can, you will be fine.

Also, are you adding ammonia back up to 4 ppm every 12 or 24 hours/

-FHM

Every 24 hours even though nitrites are .25 at 24 hours. Should I wait until it goes to 0 if that means waiting more than 24 hours? I know the goal is 0 at 12 hours. If at 24 hours the reading is more than 0, should I wait until it goes to 0 before dosing ammonia to 4ppm? Lately, I've been dosing to 4pmm at 24 hours even though the reading is .25.

Ranjohns

 

[fatheadminnow]

No, keep dosing at 24 hours.

I was just unsure if you were doing 12 or 24, that's all.

Also, what kind of filter do you have again?

-FHM

 

[ranjohns]

No, keep dosing at 24 hours.

I was just unsure if you were doing 12 or 24, that's all.

Also, what kind of filter do you have again?

-FHM

a HOB Marineland Penguin Power Filter 350B

 

[fatheadminnow]

Okay, I was just curious.

-FHM

 

[ranjohns]

Day 92

Dosed ammonia to 4ppm; 12 hours later nitrites at 2.0; nitrAtes at 40ppm; ammonia at 0; pH at 7.2+

This tank, dosed with 5ppm ammonia took from Jan 18 to March 8 for ammonia to go to 0. Nitrites stayed at .25 from March 9 to March 23; and at 2.0 from March 24 through today, April 20 (dosed ammonia to 4ppm since March 30).

I'm now thinking about adding a commercial product to the tank to jump start the beneficial nitrite-eating colony. Any suggestions? Or, on the other hand, any arguments to continue dosing for the elusive nitrite 0?

Ranjohns

 

[ranjohns]

Day 93 morning

24 hours after dosing ammonia to 4ppm nitrites are 0 which indicates growth in the colony. Nitrites had been coming in at .25 at 24 hours for quite some time.

Ranjohns

 

[fatheadminnow]

What is your water temp at?

-FHM

 

[ranjohns]

What is your water temp at?

-FHM

83F