Help interpreting test results

[Abu]

I'm into my 4th week cycling my tank with a few platies. I took some tests today and the readings are as follows:

Ammonia - 0.25 ppm
Nitrite - 1.0 ppm (could be as high as 2.0ppm)
Nitrate - 60 ppm

Does this look ok? I guess i'll need to do a partial water change to keep the nitrite under control - is that right? I suppose adding more fish at this stage is out of the question?

Any help appreciated
Abu

 

[JWright]

Adding more fish is absolutly out of the question. You really shouldn't have added any to begin with, but that's a whole 'nother discussion (http://www.geocities.com/joshsfish/fishless.html).

You're still cycling, yoo look like you're on the downhill side of the ammo spike but still in the thick of the nitrite spike.

Don't add any more fish until both your ammo and nitrite are 0.

Keep up with the water changes, to keep both both the nitrites and nitrates in check. I would also reccomend you add a little salt to the water to help the fish cope with the nitrite.

HTH,
Josh

 

[Abu]

Thanks Josh. I've now done a 50% water change and added some aquarium salt (a little to start with; i'll introduce the rest over a few days). Whilst i was at it, i've added an air-stone as well.

When should i test next?

Abu

 

[JWright]

I would reccomend testing daily.

Josh

 

[Abu]

Is it usual for the nitrate level to be that high at this stage? I aways thought that during cycling the nitrates built up towards the end?

Abu

 

[Abu]

Okay, its been almost 48 hrs now since i did the water change, added some salt and the air-stone. Here are the new results:

Ammonia - 0.25ppm
Nitrite - 0.50ppm (leaning towards 1.0ppm)

Not a great deal has changed. Shall i leave it for now or do another partial water change?

Abu

 

[JWright]

I would leave it for now. It sounds like you're getting close.

Josh

 

[Abu]

Okay, things are looking a lot better now. Here are today's test results...

Ammonia - between 0.0 & 0.25ppm (leaning towards 0.25)
Nitrite - between 0.0 & 0.25ppm (leaning towards 0.25)
Nitrate - 40ppm

How does this sound? I'm assuming that the tank has either finished or is near to finishing cycling? The tank was cycling for almost 5 weeks (with 5 platies).

The only slight worry is that pH is still high...

pH 8.6

The local tap water here is pH 8.0. I thought of bringing this down and purchased some Proper pH 7.5 but then learnt that it is not good for live plants so i haven't added any. I've put some bogwood in the tank in the hope that the tanins will help to control the pH.

I was hoping to add some fish on Saturday. Shall i do something about the pH first?

Abu

 

[JWright]

Sounds like you're in good shape cycle-wise.

What fish are you planning on adding? You might not have to worry about your pH.

Josh

 

[Abu]

Thanks Josh. As for the fish i intend to add, i've just started a new thread called 'Fish suggestions please for cycled tank', any tips you could provide would be most appreciated.

Abu

 

[equinom]

I see that this topic hasn't been visited in awhile, but hoping that someone will see...
After cycling our tank and adding a few fish at a time over several weeks, we are now seeing some changes in water chemistry.  I thought I understood "the cycle", but am confused with how to resolve the problem.

Tank is an Eclipse 12
pH stays around 7 - 7.2
Temp steady at 74 - 76
Biowheel
No live plants

Fish: all are very small - an inch or less
couple of Gouramis
couple of neons
albino catfish (?)  tiny, white and has red eyes
couple of danios
glass tetra


Was not aware of the different chemistries I should have been checking.  Started checking ammonia - it was negative.
That was good.  Then made the mistake of overfeeding.
Ammonia went up.  Many water changes - ammonia decreased but never went back to zero.  
Have now purchased Nitrite and Nitrate kits.  Nitrite was elevated, and Nitrate was about 40.

Have cutback on the feeding (moved food so my little boy can not reach it!) and performed multiple water changes.
What else can I do?  And would someone explain why I need to measure Nitrite and Nitrate if I'm already checking ammonia?
If the cycle is
fish waste  -->  ammonia -->  nitrite -->  nitrate--> Biofilter
and the ammonia is 0, doesn't that mean that the cycle is alright?  

 

[ChazECJr]

Read Josh's article at this site on cycling a tank.  The nitrite spike comes AFTER the ammonia spike.  You could still have nitrite with zero ammo, tank is not cycled til ammo and nitrite are both zero.  If your nitrite is high a water change is probably called for.

By the way I'm "CharlieC" at healthybetta, I think you post there too...small world!!

 

[dattack]

Sometimes you can finish your fish initial cycle.  However, after each addition of fish, a new cycle will occur because the biological filtration you have is inadequate.  
For example, if you initially cycle with 2 fishes, the ammonia level might be low enough where you undergo a very short cycle.  Thereafter, adding another fish will exceed you biological filtation capacities and then you will get another mini cycle.
That's why it's important to cycle with a dead cocktail shrimp in the beginning because it puts out more ammonia then a couple of fish leaving some feces.  After that, you biological filtration can probably handle more than a couple of fish in your system.

 

[equinom]

Dead cocktail shrimp?  No one ever told me that.  Is it too late to throw a shrimp in now, or would the fish eat it? And, then again, would that be a problem?

What type of shrimp sauce works best?  Extra garlick, or fairly light with a dash of cilantro?  I know this great local place that has a huge buffett - couple of shrimps would never be missed...

Truely - what is the best thing to do.  And when should you measure for Nitrites, Nitrates and ammonia?  Are water changes the only way to spare the fish?

 

[dattack]

Well it's probably too late now.  If you throw in the shrimp the ammonia might be to high for the fish too handle.  You just have to wait for the cycle to finish and hope you biological filtration picks up more bacteria during that.

You can check out the fishless cycle on this board.

 

[JWright]

Yep, cocktail shrimp are often used to cycle saltwater tanks. I prefer to be a bit more percise, but anything is better than nothing.

Josh

 

[equinom]

OK - Let me make sure I understand: (I've re-read Josh's article)

Measure nitrite, because it could be high even though ammonia is negative because nitrite is the next phase in the nitrogen cycle - and the cycle is not complete at that point.

What about the nitrate?  Isn't 40 or greater considered a normal freshwater tank?  Please explain how nitrites could be high and nitrates - the phase after nitrite - could be OK.  Is it because the bio filter doesn't have enough bacteria for the volume of fish?  (I should have allowed more time during fishless cycled, and added less fish, slower...)

I want understand so that I can provide the fish a healthy environment.  Stress is an issue for fish - and I don't want to add to it by not taking care of the water.  

I appreciate any and all help/advice.  I am sure my fish appreciate it, too.

 

[ChazECJr]

Ammonia is chemically transformed into nitrite (by one bacteria), nitrite is then transformed into nitrate (by another bacteria).  Until the tank is completely cycled you might even have all three compounds, for a little while at least.

When you have zero ammo and nitrite your bacterial culture is large enough to turn all nitrogen bearing waste into nitrate without any measurable ammo or nitrite.  Water changes are done mainly to keep nitrate levels low, the main method I know of (there is another way I read about, but I don't think it's really a good idea...)

The "safe nitrate level" varies depending on who you ask.  Some say close to zero.  Others say less than 40 ppm is OK.