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  • #1

    interrupting cycling

    Can a 10% water change to remove nitrites in a 100g tank interrupt the cycling of the tank?

    The tank has been up and running for over two weeks.  We added Cycle to it initially and another dose a week later, then started daily dosing with Stability.

    Parameters-
    3/21 - Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate all 0
    3/26 - Ammonia .5, Nitrite .25, Nitrate 5
    3/28 - Ammonia .25, Nitrite 2.0, Nitrate 5
    3/30 - Ammonia 0, Nitrite 2.0, Nitrate 10

    From what we know and have researched, this seems to be normal.

    Does adding Cycle and/or Stability (dosed as recommended) give false positives?  
    Will a 10% or more water change screw things up?

    The tank currently has 6 small danios, 1 2.5" Bala, 1 2.5" Red Tail Shark and 1 3" Pleco.

    Running an XP3 with Chem-Zorb, Bio-Chem Stars, and Seachem Matrix, that filter is new and only on for a day now.
    Running an Odyssea (Jebo) CFS4 with the original Carbon, Ceramic (and we think it has the Ammo chips) for a little over two weeks (since the tank started.)

    What else can we do to lower those Nitrites?
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: interrupting cycling

    After you get rid of the chlorine and add the fish & fish food, the organic wastes are broken down into ammonia.  Depending on how many fish, how much fish food and how big an aquarium, the ammonia can build up to lethal levels in a week +/-.   If you start with fewer fish & fish food, the ammonia level will increase more slowly and never reach lethal levels because, after you have some ammonia, little bugs grow and multiply and convert the ammonia into nitrites, again depending on how much amonia is available and how fast these bugs multiply, the nitrites can build up in the water to lethal levels in about a week +/-.  Again, If you start with fewer fish & fish food, the nitrites will increase more slowly and never reach leathal levels. because, after you have nitrites, other little bugs grow and multiply and convert the nitrites into nitrates, which make good fertilizer and are not lethal but should be thinned out regularly with water changes.   (Old water is great for growing plants and green water to feed your daphnia)  A good filter system has lots of foam sheets or bio balls, or other goodies with plenty of surface area for these little bugs to grow and live on.  At this point the cycle is stable and ammonia & nitrite spikes are not a problem.  
    If you do a water change and remove 10% of the water, ammonia, nitrites & nitrates, the little bugs go hungry for a few weeks while their food source is replinished.   No problem.
    If you do something to destroy the surface area of the filter and the bugs living there on, it will take some time for the bugs to grow back and you may have problems with ammonia or nitrite spikes as you will have caused another cycle to start.
    If you have a densely planted tank the plants will consume the nitrates and reduce the need for partial water changes
    If you replace evaporation in your tank with local hard tap water and do not do any water changes, your thak will eventually become similar th the Dead Sea.
    'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. 'Without you, we are but dust ...'
    He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four-year old girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?'

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    • #3
      Re: interrupting cycling

      Like PhishPhreek said, it could interrupt the cycle, but sometimes that's in the best interest for your fish. If they seem really stressed about the nitrites, I wouldn't hesitate to do a small water change. But if they are acting normally (good color, normal swimming and breathing, etc.) I'd wait it out a few days. The nitrites should start to go down, especially now that nitrates are rising (meaning you've got the bacteria that converts nitrites to nitrates).

      Let us know if and when you see changes.  :)
      "Millennium hand and shrimp!"

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: interrupting cycling

        Thank You both!

        Tested today after we did a 15% water change yesterday, and:

        pH 7.8 (must be the new water), Ammonia 0, Nitrite .5, Nitrate 10.

        This was after also doing the daily dose of Stability last night.

        All the fish seem to still be doing fine.  

        Maybe we were getting impatient because our two 20g and 5g cycled so fast that we thought this would too!

        We'll post when it changes again.

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: interrupting cycling

          Great! Glad the nitrites are going down. You're almost there!  
          "Millennium hand and shrimp!"

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: interrupting cycling

            Well, patience paid off!

            Checked the nitrites twice just to be sure...

            Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, and Nitrates 10!

            Thanks for all the help!

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