Nitrite

[doresy]

Ok, week 5.

5.0 ammonia added evening.......0 ammonia by morning and nitite 0 too.

5.0 ammonia added morning.......0 ammonia by evening but nitrIte 1.0

The only difference is I run an airstone during the DAY.

Same for 3 days running now......anyone know why

 

[rsands]

this is only a guess...but i wonder if it isn't getting a good enough constant flow and some of the bacteria is dying off really quickly while there is no ammonia left.

cause fish are constantly putting a steady flow of waste into the tank...were as ammonia you put in is dying off, etc.

 

[doresy]

Seems unlikely as 5.0 ammonia will not process immediatly, it will gradually deplete over the 8-9 hours and the bacteria would not die in that tme.

The point in question is, is there any reason why nitrIte appears at the end of the day but not at the end of the night?
ie. is light a significant factor or the air pump etc.

Thank you for your input

 

[Tiger Barb]

I'm no chemist, and I'm fully prepared to be smacked down by one.... but -

If nitrIte is NO2, and NitrAte is NO3, then presumably your nitrites might be turning to nitrates by the "addition" of oxygen out of the water...?

Or is that just too easy...?

What are your nitrate levels like?

 

[doresy]

I'm no chemist, and I'm fully prepared to be smacked down by one.... but -

If nitrIte is NO2, and NitrAte is NO3, then presumably your nitrites might be turning to nitrates by the "addition" of oxygen out of the water...?

Or is that just too easy...?

What are your nitrate levels like?

sounds like a theory. NitrAtes were at 50 before doing a 90% water change mid way through cycling

 

[rdd1952]

I'm certainly no chemist either but if that were the case, I would think the nitrite would dissapear faster, rather than slower, during the day since there is extra oxygen then.

If your days and nights are the same length (you're adding the ammonia at 8 AM & 8 PM for instance), then I feel sure the air has something to do with it but not sure what. I don't think it will be an issue once the fish are in the tank. Sounds to me like it is cycled.

 

[Danno]

Rememer that test kits can be faulty.