New tank, no fish, high Nitrite

[lauraf]

Adding pure ammonia is the best way to keep the levels stable, but anything that decays will produce ammonia: dead fish, dead shrimp, dead plants, fish food, etc. Anything organic (was once alive) will produce ammonia when the bacteria breaks it down during the decay process.

That's what I was thinking. Just as an option for those who might not be able to get pure ammonia. I know there is the possibility of adding disease, and the levels won't be as controlled as measured amounts of ammonia . . . .

Hey Brian - I get you. But the bacteria causing the high nitrite could still die off without an ammonia source, even as the bacteria converting the nitrite to nitrate is working away . . . . So stop doing water changes, and continue to add some sort of ammonia source until the nitrite drops to zero (along with ammonia) and the nitrates spike?

 

[prakash8820]

I think this was very informative and would be a guide book for every beggineer. This forum is highly filled with knowledge.. Well done guys....

 

[brian1973]

Hey Brian - I get you. But the bacteria causing the high nitrite could still die off without an ammonia source, even as the bacteria converting the nitrite to nitrate is working away . . . . So stop doing water changes, and continue to add some sort of ammonia source until the nitrite drops to zero (along with ammonia) and the nitrates spike?

Thanks for clearing that up, I didnt even think of the original bacteria dying off, I personally am curious on where the nitrites are coming from, would have to be the cycle product I would guess??

 

[aakaakaak]

I had a similar issue with high nitrites and no ammonia or nitrates to speak of. It turns out it was either a bad filter or too many water changes to let the cycle go through. The test kit was day-glow purple for nitrites (at least 5PPM) for around two weeks before it finally rolled over. Unfortunately, I was one of those poor unfortunate beginners that thought cycling the tank started with no chemicals or decay involved. So a few mollies were sacrificed to the cycle gods. (For some reason my danios are impervious to pain.)

So now that I'm a bit wiser and starting the cycle on my first upgrade tank (29 gal) I'm a bit smarter about it. I'm taking some of my substrate from my clean and established tank, as well as flake feeding it.

(Apparently some of the more friendly and/or local stores will give/sell you a small bag of established/cycled substrate to get you going.)

This has been a good thread. If I start another tank I may try the straight ammonia method.

 

[achase]

For some reason my danios are impervious to pain.

Probably not impervious to pain but hardy.

I like the fishless cycle and for me ammonia was the best way to achieve that because I didn't wanna deal with decaying food (gross!).

 

[aakaakaak]

Decaying food or decaying poop. It's in your tank whether you like it or not.

It's the CYYYYYYYYcle of liiiiiife!!!!
/LionKing

 

[lauraf]

Thanks for clearing that up, I didnt even think of the original bacteria dying off, I personally am curious on where the nitrites are coming from, would have to be the cycle product I would guess??

I'd guess so too.

And wouldn't the original bacteria die off without a constant ammonia source? Then the whole cycle would break down, because the nitrate-producing bacteria would starve too . . . . .