Nitrite issues

[David L. Burkhead]

My tank has been cycling for some time now and it looks like I'm finally in
the home stretch--ammonia down to zero, Nitrite having recently dropped from
2 ppm to 0.5 ppm--but things seem to be stalled there. It's been 12 days
since ammonia dropped to zero and five since nitrite dropped from 2 to 0.5.
However, in this morning's test nitrite climbed back up from 0.5 to 1.
Worse, I'm not sure if the numbers actually mean anything since I've now
used three different test kits (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Master freshwater
test kit, Jungle brand multiple test strips, and SeaChem Nitrite/Nitrate
multi-test) each giving completely different results (0.5, 3, and 5 ppm
respectively--API is what I "report" since that's what I have used from the
beginning).

The tank is 29 gallons with a single Comet, about 2 1/2" long, in it. I've
got two HOB filters: The "Top Fin" filter that came with the kit (looks to
be a re-branding of the Tetra Whisper 30 filter) and a Penguin Bio-Wheel
125.

A chart of my water test results (along with indication of when water
changes were made) can be found here:
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g206/dburkhead/waterqual070921.gif
--
David L. Burkhead "Dum Vivimus Vivamus"
"While we live, let us live."
My webcomic Cold Servings
http://www.coldservings.com -- Back from hiatus!
Updates Wednesdays

[[email protected]]

quit feeding the fish for a couple days and do some good sized water
changes. add a bit of salt, like 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons. Ingrid

On Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:46:53 -0400, "David L. Burkhead"
> wrote:

>My tank has been cycling for some time now and it looks like I'm finally in
>the home stretch--ammonia down to zero, Nitrite having recently dropped from
>2 ppm to 0.5 ppm--but things seem to be stalled there. It's been 12 days
>since ammonia dropped to zero and five since nitrite dropped from 2 to 0.5.
>However, in this morning's test nitrite climbed back up from 0.5 to 1.
>Worse, I'm not sure if the numbers actually mean anything since I've now
>used three different test kits (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Master freshwater
>test kit, Jungle brand multiple test strips, and SeaChem Nitrite/Nitrate
>multi-test) each giving completely different results (0.5, 3, and 5 ppm
>respectively--API is what I "report" since that's what I have used from the
>beginning).
>
>The tank is 29 gallons with a single Comet, about 2 1/2" long, in it. I've
>got two HOB filters: The "Top Fin" filter that came with the kit (looks to
>be a re-branding of the Tetra Whisper 30 filter) and a Penguin Bio-Wheel
>125.
>
>A chart of my water test results (along with indication of when water
>changes were made) can be found here:
>http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g206/dburkhead/waterqual070921.gif

[David L. Burkhead]

Thanks. Turns out I just needed to be a bit more patient. A couple days
after I asked the question nitrite dropped to zero and stayed there, marking
the tank as finally finished cycling.

--
David L. Burkhead "Dum Vivimus Vivamus"
"While we live, let us live."
My webcomic Cold Servings
http://www.coldservings.com -- Back from hiatus!
Updates Wednesdays