Nitrite (NO2)

[rainbowdarter]

Got this problem although after 90% water change.

NO3 - more than 40mg/l

NO2 - 0.3mg/l

Ammonia - 0.25mg/l

What is the main cause of high NO3?

[rainbowdarter]

mod pls remove if i post at wrong forum.

[Ekia]

is the tank still cycling?

[giantbicycle]

wad test kit is that?

[rainbowdarter]

is the tank still cycling?

YUP......STILL CYCLING NOW...ABOUT 5HRS ALREADY

[rainbowdarter]

I used SERA NO3 Test kit.

[Ekia]

Its normal to have high level of NO3, cos u dun have anaerobic bacteria to break down the NO3 to N2.

[Achilles Tang]

Got this problem although after 90% water change.

NO3 - more than 40mg/l

NO2 - 0.3mg/l

Ammonia - 0.25mg/l

What is the main cause of high NO3?

As long as you have an ammonia reading, you will still get a nitrite and nitrate reading..... do read up on the nitrogen cycle.

When your tank has built up a high enough population of bacteria to process each stage of the cycle and their byproducts... these measurable values will drop until the next major dieoff that will cause a spike.

[typrobin]

maybe testkit is faulty?? cos 90% water change is quite a lot..

another thing might be your tap water..u do a test on the tapwater and see how it goes...

[Reefbum]

Often we rely only on test kit so much that we don't see the facts staring at us i.e the tank itself.Do you have any algae, fish being stressed etc..If not,think you need to get another test kit.

[aStRoBo|]

why change water during cycling?

[minsmarine]

If your tank is cyclying, should be normal.

However if you want shorter cycling time, get bacteria booster ( I got mime from Jlk Kaya shop ) which boost up bacteria growning.

The whole process would be take only 3 days

[YzF]

Throw away the Sera test kit. Btw its normal during cycling the reading of everything is high

[Rocky99]

ammonia and no2 shd all come down (to abt zeo) in say 3 wks from the start. but nitrates usually build up progresively, unless you have some chemicals to remove it or a mature deep sand bed. the high nitrate reading can be due to the high no2 reading as some nitrate test kits measures the total nitrite and nitrate. how abt putting in a bottle of fritzyme. then start changing water when the cycle is completed to handle the nitrates.

[Rocky99]

YUP......STILL CYCLING NOW...ABOUT 5HRS ALREADY

what do you understand of cycling?

[XPeriment 626]

i find it hard to figure out the problem wihout having any clue as to your setup. what size tank? what filtration method are you using? how much live stock do you have?

[lightningstrike]

i find it hard to figure out the problem wihout having any clue as to your setup. what size tank? what filtration method are you using? how much live stock do you have?

yup, i agree wif stitch here. details r too sketchy. i get the impression that the results of ur tests were taken after 5 hours of cycling??? can u correct me???

[tineng]

I read somewhere that No3 test kits are not accurate when there are still No2 present in the system.....i think the first thing you should do is take care of the amonia first....5 hours of cycling????

[aStRoBo|]

what do you understand of cycling?

we are all still learning..

[rainbowdarter]

Thanks guys....will test again once reach home.

Yup, test done after 5hr cycling.

Already add bacteria to speed up cycle.

[lightningstrike]

Thanks guys....will test again once reach home.

Yup, test done after 5hr cycling.

Already add bacteria to speed up cycle.

patient bro, cycling could not be possibly done with in 5 hours........ test again with reliable test kits....... once readings of ammonia and nitrite r down to undetectable levels, u will hv a substantial reading of nitrate levels. do a partial water change of 20 to 30%. thereafter, u can add in LS slowly.

[Achilles Tang]

The typical cycling period will take 3 - 4 weeks.

Some can even experience a shorter or longer time depending on biological setup.

But certainly not in 5 hours!

[Rocky99]

we are all still learning..

no offence. was trying to help as i thought there was a confusion between cycling the water and establishing a cycle. made the same mistake too myself last time.

[Achilles Tang]

What's 'cycling the water'??

[Ekia]

no offence. was trying to help as i thought there was a confusion between cycling the water and establishing a cycle. made the same mistake too myself last time.

Seriously.. whats the difference? Whats cycling the water?