Does adding plants cause a change in nitrites/nitrates?

My 29 gallon freshwater tank was fully cycled by the end of last week. I did a 50% water change last Thursday evening and got my nitrates down to 20ppm.

On Tuesday, I added plants. Right before adding them, I tested the water ( I test the water every other day and then also add ammonium chloride to feed the bacteria until I get fish). Everything looked great, 0ppm for both ammonia and nitrites. 20ppm for nitrates. So I added the plants.

Last night I learned that I planted the plants wrong- I should have removed them from their pots and placed them directly into the sand. I removed the plants, removed the pots and foam, and then added them back into the tank.

I just tested the water- now I have 0ppm ammonia, .25ppm nitrites, and 40ppm nitrates. Is this normal? What caused this change- the plants? Or the rearranging of plants? I imagine I should do another water change? If so, another 50% or 25%?

I was going to order my first set of fish, 6 corys, today. Do I have to be concerned that I will have another sudden change in the water and won't be able to add them? They wouldn't come until next week.

Thanks!

 

My 29 gallon freshwater tank was fully cycled by the end of last week. I did a 50% water change last Thursday evening and got my nitrates down to 20ppm.

On Tuesday, I added plants. Right before adding them, I tested the water ( I test the water every other day and then also add ammonium chloride to feed the bacteria until I get fish). Everything looked great, 0ppm for both ammonia and nitrites. 20ppm for nitrates. So I added the plants.

Last night I learned that I planted the plants wrong- I should have removed them from their pots and placed them directly into the sand. I removed the plants, removed the pots and foam, and then added them back into the tank.

I just tested the water- now I have 0ppm ammonia, .25ppm nitrites, and 40ppm nitrates. Is this normal? What caused this change- the plants? Or the rearranging of plants? I imagine I should do another water change? If so, another 50% or 25%?

I was going to order my first set of fish, 6 corys, today. Do I have to be concerned that I will have another sudden change in the water and won't be able to add them? They wouldn't come until next week.

Thanks!

The pots that the plants come in have fertilizer in them meaning nitrogen either in the form of nitrates, nitrites, or ammonia.

 

How much ammonia are you converting to nitrates in a 24 hour period?

 

I add 1/4 of the original dosage of ammonium chloride each time. So I add 29 drops in total every other day. By the next day, my ammonia and nitrates are at 0ppm. Today would be the day that I add a dosage.

How much ammonia are you converting to nitrates in a 24 hour period?

I add 1/4 of the original dosage of ammonium chloride each time. So I add 29 drops in total every other day. By the next day, my ammonia and nitrates are at 0ppm. Today would be the day that I add a dosage.

The pots that the plants come in have fertilizer in them meaning nitrogen either in the form of nitrates, nitrites, or ammonia.

Thanks for letting me know.
So should I do a water change at this time? If so, 25% or 50%?

 

Thanks for letting me know.
So should I do a water change at this time? If so, 25% or 50%?

Well i would just do a big 90% Wc the day before you add the fish as plants can tolerate pretty high nitrate levels compared to fish.

 

Just leave it alone to balance out itself. If the tabk is cycled there wont be a problem with the nitrites and the plants will take care of the nitrates. I agree with above just do a wc before u add fish

 

Well i would just do a big 90% Wc the day before you add the fish as plants can tolerate pretty high nitrate levels compared to fish.

Thank you!!

Just leave it alone to balance out itself. If the tabk is cycled there wont be a problem with the nitrites and the plants will take care of the nitrates. I agree with above just do a wc before u add fish

Thank you!!

 

Just watch for a small ammonia spike after you add the fish. You might need to do a large water change once or twice. Don’t feed them for a day or two to keep the ammonia levels as low as possible while the cycle catches up.

 

Just watch for a small ammonia spike after you add the fish. You might need to do a large water change once or twice. Don’t feed them for a day or two to keep the ammonia levels as low as possible while the cycle catches up.

Just to confirm- don't add ammonium chloride today?

 

Just to confirm- don't add ammonium chloride today?

Are you getting the corys today? If you are then no, don’t add ammonia. No need because they will make it.

Just wondering, what will be your full stocking? Asking because corys do better in an “older” tank and if you are planning to get some hardier fish, maybe start with them instead

 

Are you getting the corys today? If you are then no, don’t add ammonia. No need because they will make it.

So when should I feed the bacteria next?
I'm ordering the corys today so they arrive next week.

Just wondering, what will be your full stocking? Asking because corys do better in an “older” tank and if you are planning to get some hardier fish, maybe start with them instead

Either tetras or raspboras and 1 dwarf blue gourami.

I was told to get the corys first and the gourami last as the gourami can be more aggressive. Is that not the case?

 

Either tetras or raspboras and 1 dwarf blue gourami.

I was told to get the corys first and the gourami last as the gourami can be more aggressive. Is that not the case?

Hmm, the gourami can be aggressive but I’ve never heard that they’re aggressive to other species, just to other gouramis. I would personally go for the gourami first and corys later, but I’m by no means an expert in the gourami world. I was told by a cory expert here that my corys probably lost some of their barbels because the substrate wasn’t old enough and established with bacterial colonies. They haven’t lost any more barbels since the first month so I’m inclined to believe that the “new tank” was Indeed the reason for their poor condition. It is ultimately your decision on who to add first, but I don’t think the gourami will pick on the corys at all, whether it is added first or second.

once you add fish you no longer need to add any ammonia.

 

Yes, as has been said, adding the plants can slightly change the parameters. Your nitrite eating bacteria should clean the nitrites out quickly and a water change should lower the nitrates but that can wait until the day before you get your fish.

I have to ask. How much ammonia is this cycle processing? If it is processing enough you should be able to add all of your stock at the same time instead of a few at a time. You say you are now adding 1/4th of the original amount. How high does the 29 drops raise the ammonia level in this tank? Is it 1, 2, 3, or even 4ppm? The more ammonia this tank will process the more fish you can add all at once. If you have grown enough bacteria you shouldn't experience any spike after adding all of your stock.

When it comes to the water change you need to do before adding fish let your numbers be your guide as to how much water to change. Personally I wouldn't change out any more than 50% of the water. If the 50% doesn't get the nitrates as low as you want them do another water change the following day.

Your cycle needs time to get firmly established so you don't want to disturb it too much. As you know, bacteria doesn't live in the water. It is growing on all the surfaces in the tank including the glass. The more water you change the more of the glass is exposed to the air and more of a chance of what's on the glass dying off as it drys out.

All of my tanks are firmly establish so I am not worried about the small amount of bacteria I lose when I do my big water changes. I know there is enough bacteria in my tanks to where the little bit I lose by cleaning the inside of my glass isn't going to affect my cycle. In a newly cycled tank that isn't the case. In a newly cycled tank it is better to be safe than sorry.

 

I have to ask. How much ammonia is this cycle processing? If it is processing enough you should be able to add all of your stock at the same time instead of a few at a time. You say you are now adding 1/4th of the original amount. How high does the 29 drops raise the ammonia level in this tank? Is it 1, 2, 3, or even 4ppm? The more ammonia this tank will process the more fish you can add all at once. If you have grown enough bacteria you shouldn't experience any spike after adding all of your stock.

Thanks for your detailed reply!

So the other day, I added the 29 drops of ammonium chloride. Shortly after, I tested it. The ammonia was at .50ppm. It was down to 0ppm the next day.

I hope I understood your question and answered it correctly.