Nitrites
- Thread starter Flex26
- Start date
I am having the same issue with high nitrite levels (10 ppm). The ammonia went to zero 3 days ago. I started the tank new on May 7th, 2003. The 3 fish died within 2 weeks so I decided to complete the nitrogen cycle using pure household ammonia. Once the ammonia levels got to zero I found my nitrites hanging in the 10 ppm range for several days. Okay, I have a nice colony of nitrosomonas obviously as any ammonia I add is quick converted to nitrites. But I am impatient for the nitrite hungry nitrosospira and nitrospira to develop. Today I purchased BioSpira™ and added it to the tank. I have read nothing but good about this product which is in contrast to what I have read about other bacterial catalysts such as Cycle™. Marineland, the manufacturer of BioSpira™, claim that you can achieve a fully cycled tank in 24 hours. Although I am somewhere in the middle of my nitrogen cycle it makes sense that this product should do its job. I will start posting my results tomorrow.
Hi Flex26 - go to this link: http://www.marineland.com/products/prod_consumer.html
There is a field in which you enter your zip code to find a MarineLand dealer near you. This is how I found an LFS that carried BioSpira. It gave me a pretty large list of LFS's in my area. I called each LFS in the list and the third one I called had it in stock. They were only about 7 miles from my house. I hope this helps.
There is a field in which you enter your zip code to find a MarineLand dealer near you. This is how I found an LFS that carried BioSpira. It gave me a pretty large list of LFS's in my area. I called each LFS in the list and the third one I called had it in stock. They were only about 7 miles from my house. I hope this helps.
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I am glad I was of help! BioSpira™ is the only bacterial catalyst I would trust among the rest. Here's why: BioSpira™ is refrigerated for a very good reason. Nitrifying bacteria are virtually in stasis at refrigerated temperatures so that they wont need food (ammonia or nitrite) or O2 until they are introduced into warmer temperatures. At that point they awaken from their cold slumber and have the munchies 
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Yes, Pyackel. You were much help. You're experience and rave reviews with Bio-Spira forced me to drive 40 minutes to buy the stuff!! So, I'm blaming you!! hehe
Well, it's been 36 hours since I applied the miracle drug. When I first used the stuff Nitrites = 1.0 to 2.0. (I'm partially colorblind, so it's hard for me to tell ) At 6AM EST Nitrites = 0.0 ppm. Man, this stuff works fast.
The only weird thing I have noticed is that my nitrAtes are still 5.0 to 10.0 ppm. I thought that they would be higher. Can anyone explain this?
Pyackel, what are the readings for your nitrates?
heheWell, it's been 36 hours since I applied the miracle drug. When I first used the stuff Nitrites = 1.0 to 2.0. (I'm partially colorblind, so it's hard for me to tell
) At 6AM EST Nitrites = 0.0 ppm. Man, this stuff works fast.The only weird thing I have noticed is that my nitrAtes are still 5.0 to 10.0 ppm. I thought that they would be higher. Can anyone explain this?
Pyackel, what are the readings for your nitrates?
Under 10ppm of nitrate is optimal! Many fish do just fine at even higher levels of 30 - 60 ppm's! I have never bothered with nitrates since they have never bothered me (or my fish ). I keep live plants in my tanks which consume nitrate and perform partial water changes often. This really helps keep the nitrate under control. Are there fish in the aquarium that is cycling? If so, how many and what size are they? Do you have live plants in the aquarium that is cycling? Usually nitrates become high in old tanks (Old Tank Syndrome) causing a very low pH. The fish continue to live but this is because the pH is so low that the toxicity of ammonia is greatly reduced.
). I keep live plants in my tanks which consume nitrate and perform partial water changes often. This really helps keep the nitrate under control. Are there fish in the aquarium that is cycling? If so, how many and what size are they? Do you have live plants in the aquarium that is cycling? Usually nitrates become high in old tanks (Old Tank Syndrome) causing a very low pH. The fish continue to live but this is because the pH is so low that the toxicity of ammonia is greatly reduced.
I have 7 zebra danios and 1 rosy red in my tank that now has nitrites = 0. I don't have any live plants....yet.
My understanding of the cycle is that this: fish = ammonia = nitrite = nitrate = water changes/plant consumption and so on. I guess my problem is that if the bacteria consumed the nitrite, then where is my nitrate? I expected my nitrate to be little higher than 5-10 ppm. Does my explaination make sense?
My understanding of the cycle is that this: fish = ammonia = nitrite = nitrate = water changes/plant consumption and so on. I guess my problem is that if the bacteria consumed the nitrite, then where is my nitrate? I expected my nitrate to be little higher than 5-10 ppm. Does my explaination make sense?
Yes Flex it makes sense...by my understanding of nitrates, good filtration will take some out, as well as some being absorbed by other stuff in the tank...so your levels wouldn't necessarily be higher than you are seeing. The fact that you are seeing ANY means that the nitrites have been transformed to nitrates. The reason we do water changes is to make sure that the nitrate levels stay down at a reasonable level for the fishy inhabitants.
Flex26 - I have a theory as to why your nitrates are lower than you expect. Nitrite (NO2) is oxidized by Nitrospira bacteria into Nitrate (NO3). Nitrite has two oxygen atoms while Nitrate needs an additional Oxygen atom. Assuming that the only oxygen atoms the bacteria can utilize to make Nitrate are found soley in the Nitrite (NO2) ion, then the Nitrate (NO3) yeild would have to be less!