sasha

Hi GUYS
* * * * * * * *I just tested my water with "liquid test" i was surprised to get a tiny , tiny TRACE of NITRITE what would the explanation for this :its an established tank and its the first time ive ever had a reading of nitrite although it was barely 0.01 what couldve caused it , i have read somewhere that before you get nitrogen gas the nitrate has to be converted back into NITRITE,, could it be just this or something else ,,,mmmmm
no ammonia ,, nitrate 25ppm
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Thanks Sasha


In a properly cycled aquarium, nitrite is converted to nitrate and then, if there are areas deprived of oxygen such as in live rock and other filter materials, this nitrate is converted back to nitrite and then transformed into harmless nitrogen gas.
Could it be this

Isabella

There can be many reasons for a nitrite spike. One reason may be adding new fish - that is, adding too many fish at once. Another reason can be rinsing sponge in tap water or wholly changing filter media. Not quite sure if it's possible, but I think it is: that nitrite spike can also be caused by not enough water changes. That is: when nitrate has built up so high that the bacteria can no longer cope with it, and thus you're starting to get nitrite or ammonia again. But your nitrate is at 25 ppm so that isn't the case with your tank. Yet another reason could be removing entire - or part of - the substrate, where a lot of nitrobacteria were located. As for the "nitrite gas", I don't know if that's what has happened in your case. Do you think you have any areas in your tank that are deprived of oxygen? Live rocks? No oxygen in the filter? (No oxygen in the filter would mean no beneficial bacteria, and therefore no means to keep the tank cycled.)

sasha

Hi Isabella
Thanks for responding the only option in your list that could be the cause is the bacteria in the gravel , as i did an over cellous clean a week ago i thought i could get away with it as i have two filters running in the tank so i thought they could cope with that gravel clean i,e replenish the bacteria,
i do 40% water changes every wed and sunday are if you are wondering lm getting the nitrates i think its because one is a bio-life trickle system with i gather are bad for producing nitrates which I'm going to get rid of i hate it (don't think it works properly anyway. the other is a fluval3plus which i have shut down as i thought the fish were getting exhausted with the two running as they were at th e surface which is a symptom of exhaustion .
Thanks

Butterfly

Another option could be overfeeding , the fish are excreting more waste and so a tiny ammonia spike. It is a tiny bit of Nitrite after and so would have only been a small ammonia spike. Since you didn't have an ammonia reading it has already turned to Nitrite.
Are those clowns begging for more food than they need again
Carol

sasha

Thanks Carol i have been wondering that possibility for a while and to be honest i think it is the cause as it is in the 4ft tank this nitrite is showing and as i have learned or starting to learn just because its a bigger tank your mind plays tricks into thinking it needs more food for some strange reason lol, I'm always asking my partner (do you think that was enough food in there )
p.s i wouldn't dare put my precious clowns into any trouble lol lol , They are in another tank

i did think it was Isabella's idea of cleaning too much gravel but Ive been thinking for a while the feeding was too generous