Firecracker

Established tank, ammonia and nitrites at 0 for many weeks now. Yesterday noticed they were creeping up slightly. Not at danger levels, but I'm not sure why. Overfeeding maybe? I have a few plants, plan on more, and a piece of driftwood. Now I also noticed that the water was starting to turn a hair brown from the wood. We soaked it in a bucket filled with boiling water for 2 days, and stopped getting any color so I thought it was ready to go in. It's not dark enough to be visually unpleasant, and the tetras can only benefit from it, so I wasn't worried. Are the two conditions linked?

lilsoccakid

you must be disturbing the bacteria. make sure you are using enough dechlorinater in your water.

i would reccomend prime, it works very well.

Firecracker

I've got some dechlorinator and always use the recommended amount. I'm going to do a water change tonight.

susitna-flower

Which tank is this happening in?

COBettaCouple

It could be something in the substrate maybe?

Firecracker

The 30 gallon. My Jeep broke down yesterday so i didn't have time to do a water change--going to do that tonight. Sorry, fishies.

susitna-flower

Be sure to take new readings before your water change. I don't see any reason for this happening....I don't think the driftwood would cause it....Do you vacuum as you do water changes?

Firecracker

Yes, we vacuum. It doesn't make sense either, that's why I thought it might be from overfeeding. I think I read to feed as much as the fish can eat in 2 minutes, twice a day, and the way they all go after it I don't see much extra falling down. But maybe I'm still overfeeding. I'm not overstocked, so that shouldn't be it.