Nitrites High What Did I Do Wrong

[Don Trinko]

I just added CYCLE and another Nitrozorb in the other filter. It say's it takes out nitrites, nitrates and amonia. My amonia tests 0. I had abought 20 guppies in the tank. Thanks; Don T.

 

[Don Trinko]

Should I leave the Nitrazorb in? It's suposed to remove nitrites. Or will it interfear with the Cycle?
Thanks; Don T.

 

[rdd1952]

I just added CYCLE and another Nitrozorb in the other filter. It say's it takes out nitrites, nitrates and amonia. My amonia tests 0. I had abought 20 guppies in the tank. Thanks; Don T.

First off, most people, me included, believe Cycle and all the other bacteria starters to be useless. There is no way that bacteria can live in those bottles through the high tempratures they are exposed to. Ever been in a tractor trailer or warehouse in the dead of summer. The temperature in the trailers can easily reach 125+ and the warehouses can be close to the same. All you are adding when you use those products is ammonia which is put in the bottle supposedly to feed the bacteria while they are in there.

Second, you said that the Nitrozorb "takes out nitrites, nitrates and ammonia". That is the absolute last thing you want. If ammonia is removed (not processed and cycled), the tank will never cycle and you will be dependent on chemicals forever. And how do you know when it has reached it's absorption point and it isn't removing them any more? As long as you have a reading of ammonia or nitrite, you aren't completely cycled. I just hate to see you lose the money that discus cost as I have looked at them and how expensive they are.

 

[Don Trinko]

Amonia is still=0,nitrite =2 and nitrate =30. The Nitrzorb isn't doing anything spectacular. I figure as long as the nitrites are 2 I don't have to wory about cycling. If and when they get below 1 I will remove the Nitrazorb. thats the plan.
The discus don't seem to care. They are swimming around and eating normal. My other tanks are fine. Thanks again for all the help. Don T.

 

[WILDER]

The tank is nearly cycled another day or two and nitrite should be 0.

 

[rdd1952]

Amonia is still=0,nitrite =2 and nitrate =30. The Nitrzorb isn't doing anything spectacular. I figure as long as the nitrites are 2 I don't have to wory about cycling. If and when they get below 1 I will remove the Nitrazorb. thats the plan.
The discus don't seem to care. They are swimming around and eating normal. My other tanks are fine. Thanks again for all the help. Don T.

But with the nitrozorb in there, how can you be sure that your tank is actually cycling instead of the nitrozorb just removing the ammonia and nitrite. Obviously some ammonia is beign processed because you have nitrite. Once you remove it (and a nitrite reading of anything other than 0 is still a problem), how can you be sure that you aren't going to see a huge spike in ammonia and nitrite? Is your ammonia reading always at 0?

 

[Don Trinko]

Since the nitrite =2 ,amonia=0, and nitrate is 30 I felt the need to lower the nitrite. I have Discus in the tank, they are expensive and they are beautiful. That is my thinking for the nitrazorb. Since my nitites are normaly =0 I did not know how much was bad and I didn't want to take a chance with the discus. (they don't seem to care!) When the nitrites went from 5 to 2 I went from panic mode to concerned.
When I was a kid I had fish and the only thing we ever tested was ph and dh. You just abought have to be a chemist nowadays.. Don T.

 

[vinylman]

Did your LFS tell you Discus would be fine in an uncycled tank?. I'd have a word with them. Don't be surprised if you lose them before the cycle is finished. NEVER rinse any filter sponge in tap water. A little research and preparation before buying saves a lot of grief. Discus are a VERY specialised fish to keep. Some people have a tank running for several months before introducing them.