Sudden Ammonia/nitrite Spike In Cycled Tank !

[Clairel]

I have 90 Litre hex, been set up around 4 months... everything has been perfect on recent water checks, apart from last couple of days i have 0.25 Ammonia and 0.25 Nitrite, i cant understand this, as there have been NO new fish added, i have done 30% water change yesterday, and day before, and upon checking today, it was the same !! So i have done another 30% water change...

This may sound silly, but i have 5 guppies in there that are pregnant, do they give off more Ammonia at all during pregnancy? As i cant figure out what has caused this spike....

I also have a Platy in there that could possibly be pregnant, she has got huge, and i have noticed over last couple of days, she looks a bit thinner, although still fat belly, do you think she may have had some fry, and the other fish have eaten them, could this have caused the Ammonia spike too??

Like i say, i cant understand it, i do 1-2 water changes a week, i keep on top of everything, check water stats every other day, i havnt been over feeding, and havnt added any new fish in there for well over 5 weeks.... so i am very confused at this

Any help would be appreciated...

C x

 

[pseud]

Changed the filter lately?

Removed any large pieces of bogwood/plastic plants/other ornaments?

 

[Clairel]

No i havnt taken anything out I squeeze the foams out every so often in the tank water in the bucket once ive taken it out, they are in tact, but very dirty... could this be the problem? Do you think i need new ones? They are very dark green, and when i take the lid off, it smells like er...... a bit swampy....

C x

The only other thing i can think of, is i removed the middle very thin small foam, as this was very dirty, and needed replacing, but i didnt have one straight away, till today, so the filter was running just with the 2 normal sponges either side that go in there.... its the Fluval2+ if that helps...

C x

 

[trace1]

hi claire
i also have the fluvel 2+ but i only have the 2 pieces of foam in it never had a thrid piece of foam in it not sure if removing that piece has caused your problem but maybe with a couple of water changes it should sort itself out. hope it sorts soon
trace x x

 

[kimbowee]

I had a molly and 2 guppies give birth in one night and I did see an ammonia spike about the same as yours. I had a higher ammonia level of about .25 for 3 days before and 3 days after birth. I was wondering the same thing! If them giving birth could have caused it. No one could ever answer it for me I had also just changed one of the sponges in my tank about that same time. Maybe its just a coincedence? Anyways, it righted itself in about a weeks time. Hope that helps!

Good luck!

 

[daddyfish]

No i havnt taken anything out I squeeze the foams out every so often in the tank water in the bucket once ive taken it out, they are in tact, but very dirty... could this be the problem? Do you think i need new ones? They are very dark green, and when i take the lid off, it smells like er...... a bit swampy....

C x

The only other thing i can think of, is i removed the middle very thin small foam, as this was very dirty, and needed replacing, but i didnt have one straight away, till today, so the filter was running just with the 2 normal sponges either side that go in there.... its the Fluval2+ if that helps...

C x

I doubt that Removing that one peice of foam caused the Spike, as the Others shouldv'e been able to control it.

BUT I do know that if a tank smells a bit, as you put it Swampy, thats not really a good thing.
Wither or not it's the Filter or Tank.

Although with the way you change your water, I can't understand why it would Smell Swampy.?

If I were you I'd change out each Foam Cartridge 1 each week until all were changed.

And I'd start putting in a little Bio Zyme to help the New Foam Cartridges along, on building back up the Bacteria.

At least thats what I would do, and i figure the Spikes will soon dissappear and everything SHOULD return to normal.

 

[Clairel]

The swampy smell, is exactly the same smell that is on the foam pads in the filter.... When i squeeze them out, i notice the same smell, ....

Maybe i should think about replacing the foam pads, but i didnt think you needed to, unless they were practically no good, and falling to pieces?

C x

 

[Bloo]

I also have a Fluval 2+. Ideally you do need the middle sponge - and it's not quite the same as ordinary filter floss, so stick to the branded stuff. I actually think that removing that might have cause the spike - though shouldn't really have. But possible.

There really is no need to replace the actual sponges at all. Obviously no tank smells absolutely squeaky clean and totally odourless - you will almost certainly always have "some" odour. If it's not offensive, then I wouldn't worry about it. But saying that, you shouldn't be able to “smell” the tank unless you open the lid and stick your nose in it.

I'm sure all will settle soon

 

[Clairel]

Its only when i take the lid off, that i can smell i slight odour, its not horrible, but in the same sense, i wouldnt wear it as perfume either lol

The sponges i have in there either side, are in tact, but are gunky from time to time, this is why i squeeze them out every so often ..

I will keep my eye on things.... the fishes are fine, and dont look bothered by any of this, im just over protective i suppose lol

Thanx Claire x