The Puffer Forum

As this has been going on for a week - I thought I would ask for some advice.

I set up my new tank last Friday - added the LS (don't think it was very alive) and LR (which has now been removed).

On Sunday - did a water test and all was good. Added Bio-Spira let it run for 4 hours - tested again - all was good so I added GSP.

Monday - readings were where the needed to be 0 Nitrites, 0 Ammonia, Nitrates less then 10, pH 7.8 (same as I have been getting) Went home took out the LR - which was probably dying added new Bio Filter media - another bag of Bio-Spira since there was no bacteria probably(figured it couldn't hurt) and did a 80% WC.

Tue - readings were 0 Nitrites, 0 Ammonia, Nitrates less then 10, pH 7.8 Yeah - this will work

Wed am readings - Nitrites a little less than .25. 0 Ammonia, Nitrates less then 10, pH 7.8 - added Prime to reduce the Nitrites. Went home tested water again - Nitrites 0, 0 Ammonia, Nitrates less then 10 etc.

Thur am reading - Nitrites a little less than .25, etc - all other readings fine. Added some more prime - and set up water for an 50% WC. Did WC last night - let it run for a couple of hours and did another reading - no Nitrites.

This morning - Nitrites are back to a little less than .25.

Normally I would think that something in the tank is ?cycling? but all the other readings have been consistent - it has almost gotten to the point where I do not even test the other readings at night - I just look at the Nitrites. What am I doing wrong?????? GSP seems perfectly happy - he has great color and appetitie - swimming around and "playing" with the cat so I do not think the Nitrites are bothering him.

Only thing I can think of is that the water returning into the tank from the filter causes a pretty strong current - and GSP can't swim against it so I cut down one of my coarser filters and placed it over the outflow to cut down the current. Would that be doing it - not enough water circulation?

I am confused.

it is possible that one half of your bacteria hasn't caught up with the other yet, there's one lot that changes ammo in to nitrite, and the other changes nitrite in to nitrate, something somewhere has caused a minor imbalance and it will settle down soon enough, just keep up with the WC and all should be fine

What kind of tests did you use, and do you know the age of them?

I use the Masters SW test kit - it is fairly new. I thought about that too - but I am cycling another tank - and get different readings that do fluctuate. I also tested with Nitrite and Nitrate test strips for both FW and SW - keep getting the same readings as with my Masters.

Is it just me - or is this wierd??

It's a little off... luckily it's a brackish tank - marine salt mix seems to make nitrites less toxic.