Help - Nitrites have peaked yet ammonia has not started to drop

[JRB__]

What plants do you have? Different plants require different care.

What kind of light do you have (type and watts)?

Plants -
1 x large anubis planted on a nice big peice of driftwood
1 x smaller anubis planted on a pagoda rock
1 x smaller anubis planted on a terracotta Urn
3 x Amazon sword
4 x Java fern
Don't know exactly what kind of anubis they are but the large one on the driftwood and the smaller one on the Urn both grow flowers.

Lights -
Aqua One 36 Inch twin T8 relector:
2 x 30W - 1 tropical globe (light purple color) 1 sunlight globe (white color)

 

[OrangeCones]

All of the plants you have do fine in low light without added fertilizer in the water column or CO2. The swords would like root tabs for fertilizer since they primarily feed by the roots and are heavy feeders.

 

[JRB__]

Thanks,
So as far as my nitrate levels go, my plants will be fine without fine tuning the levels yeah? I'm not looking to grow them really large or keep aquatic plants as a 'pet' I just want to keep them looking healthy, green and clean.

 

[OrangeCones]

Everyone seems to have an opinion. Here is mine: Keep nitrates between 5 and 20, and you should do fine. Lower than 5, and you risk Blue-green algae. Higher levels are linked to the growth of many different algae.

 

[JRB__]

Everyone seems to have an opinion. Here is mine: Keep nitrates between 5 and 20, and you should do fine. Lower than 5, and you risk Blue-green algae. Higher levels are linked to the growth of many different algae.

Well you have 20yrs experience keeping planted aquariums (i'm only 23yrs old!! lol) so thats good enough for me.
Thanks-

 

[OrangeCones]

Well you have 20yrs experience keeping planted aquariums (i'm only 23yrs old!! lol) so thats good enough for me.
Thanks-

You're welcome!

I'm glad you are thinking ahead for your pleco. I see too many folks keeping a large fish in a way too small tank and then either it dies early or they 'get rid of it' by dumping it on a fish store to try to resell. To me, if you cannot take care of the animal for its normal natural lifespan, don't get it to start with.

 

[Newman]

I know youre referring to me now >_<
Look i asked the pleco to be bought when i had no idea about what they were...i think a lot of people are that way when they begin.

 

[OrangeCones]

I know youre referring to me now >_<
Look i asked the pleco to be bought when i had no idea about what they were...i think a lot of people are that way when they begin.

Huh? I wasn't referring to you or anyone here in particular. And I know that pet stores do not give out the correct information.

I've known people that take the 14" pleco into the store and 'trade it in' for the same species, but a 2" one, knowing (now!) that it will outgrow their 20gallon tank. The store does not try to talk them out of it, nor suggest a smaller species of fish.

And I've seen store employees euthanize the fish being traded in. Very sad.

 

[Newman]

Lol, i was just kidding. I did do that with my pleco tho. I gave it to an owner however, not a store.

 

[OrangeCones]

Lol, i was just kidding. I did do that with my pleco tho. I gave it to an owner however, not a store.

Would you go out and buy a common pleco for your current tank again, knowing what you now know? I think not!

 

[Newman]

i think not!

+1000000000

 

[JRB__]

You're welcome!

I'm glad you are thinking ahead for your pleco. I see too many folks keeping a large fish in a way too small tank and then either it dies early or they 'get rid of it' by dumping it on a fish store to try to resell. To me, if you cannot take care of the animal for its normal natural lifespan, don't get it to start with.

Its funny you say that. My story with my pleco is the same as most. I bought him totally unaware of the tank he would need, not now, but when he's fully grown and nor did the pet shop speak up about it... funny that, being its one of the most expensive fish they have. But when I got him home I looked him up on the net and found out in a big enough aquarium common pleco's can reach up to 2 feet!! So my pleco is the reason I'm taking my mild interest in fish keeping to the next level and investing more money than I ever thought I would be spending on this hobby.... but your right most people wouldn't, they just mistreat them.

 

[JRB__]

UPDATE**
Tank has finally completed its cycle. Yooohoooooo!!
All the barbs survived, strangely ammonia has remained at 0.25ppm. Refuses to leave...must be something rotting somewhere that I just can't find. Thanks for the help.

 

[Newman]

I remember that someone on here said that a reading of .25 NITRITE (not ammonia) indicates that you have a plant or something rotting in there. but dont worry. .25 ammonia will be gone in two weeks. I had a small .25 spike in ammonia one week after doing stuff to my filter, then next week nitrite roe to .5 and the third week everything was 0 again. It doesnt take long for that so clear, so dont stress too much about stuff rotting. (unless its visibly excessive)