?Hight Nitrite levels

Hi

I am somewhat of a newbie to garden ponds, although have kept aquariums
in the past. I live on the Isle of Wight, so no big fluctuations in
temp. I have a pre-formed 60 gal pond, planted with oxygenators, water
lettice, and marginals. I have an internal pump feeding a UV Fishmate
filter that runs onto a waterfall. The pond in several weeks old now
and was filled with water from the stream behind my house. Inhabiting
my pond are 4 very small common goldfish. My query is that although
tests for ammonia, pH, and O2 are all good I have a constantly high
Nitrite level. I have tried 1/2 water changes and added Zeolite to the
filter system. It is my understanding that ammonia oxidises to nitrate
and then nitrite......so how come there is no ammonia but levels of
nitrite are at 0.5ppm?

All help greatfully recieved, julie
--
juliepacker
------------------------------------------------------------------------
posted via www.GardenBanter.co.uk

Julie:
It takes several weeks to go through the nitrogen cycle.
First ammonia peaks, then 2 weeks LATER nitrites peak. They will come down,
but you should NOT do water changes during this process!
The nitrite reducing bacteria (that make nitrates), need to have this "fuel"
for their engine.
By doing water changes you are inhibiting this process, but lowering the
nitrite levels. Your fish should be ok during this cycling process.
Once the pond has been established with a normal cycle, then if you get
spikes in ammonia/nitrites you need to do a water change out, the amount
dependent on the level of spike.
Just let the nitrites spike for a couple of weeks, until the cycle
establishes itself and you will find it decreases as nitrates are starting
to form.
Also don't wash your filter off in chlorinated tap water or you will set the
process back as well.
Happy ponding,
Greg

--


"juliepacker" wrote in message
s.com...
Hi

I am somewhat of a newbie to garden ponds, although have kept aquariums
in the past. I live on the Isle of Wight, so no big fluctuations in
temp. I have a pre-formed 60 gal pond, planted with oxygenators, water
lettice, and marginals. I have an internal pump feeding a UV Fishmate
filter that runs onto a waterfall. The pond in several weeks old now
and was filled with water from the stream behind my house. Inhabiting
my pond are 4 very small common goldfish. My query is that although
tests for ammonia, pH, and O2 are all good I have a constantly high
Nitrite level. I have tried 1/2 water changes and added Zeolite to the
filter system. It is my understanding that ammonia oxidises to nitrate
and then nitrite......so how come there is no ammonia but levels of
nitrite are at 0.5ppm?

All help greatfully recieved, julie
--
juliepacker
------------------------------------------------------------------------
posted via www.GardenBanter.co.uk

Hi Julie...Ian post here sometimes and he lives on the Isle of wight also!!
I am going to change you title so he sees it right off. I have no idea abbout
nitrite,,,I have never tested for it...if the pond is healthy and happy....why
worry yourself oveer it? Jerri

http://www.fringeweb.com/Ponds/JerrisPond

Hi thanks for your reply. Its nice to hear that there is someone else
here from the Isle of Wight (you can feel a bit secluded in such a
small place).

Julie
--
juliepacker
------------------------------------------------------------------------
posted via www.GardenBanter.co.uk

Thank you for your advice. I will try to be patient. My fish seem
quite happy for the time being.

Regards, Julie
--
juliepacker
------------------------------------------------------------------------
posted via www.GardenBanter.co.uk

IAN GARDNER wrote:
*"Jerrispond" wrote in message
...
Hi Julie...Ian post here sometimes and he lives on the Isle of
wight
also!!
I am going to change you title so he sees it right off. I have no
idea
abbout
nitrite,,,I have never tested for it...if the pond is healthy and
happy....why
worry yourself oveer it? Jerri


http://tinyurl.com/lowy

...................... Just to add to my other reply........

Something is causeing it. It may be a dead fish or cat! It could be
over
feeding. It could be dead decaying plant buildup on the bottom of the
pond.
It could be water seaping into the pond from runoff from somewhere
like the
grass. Do you spray you grass or plants in the garden. You have to
think of
everything! I have a little area around the pond that is natural. I
use NO
Chemicals etc. I grow only native plants in it or plants that
encourage the
local wildlife like Budleigha etc. If nettles grow then I leave a few
of
them for the butterflys.

--
IAN. P. GARDNER
ISLE OF WIGHT
www.gardner44.freeserve.co.uk *

Thanks for your reply Ian. Its nice to hear from some one on the
Island. I live in Newport.

My pond is really quite new (about a month now) but since my last post
the Nitrite levels have dropped, leading me to think that the Nitrogen
Cycle has begun in ernest and things will continue to improve. I have
also added some more plants inc. some Fairy Moss, a floating plant,
that is quite attractive. I know that plants will take up the Nitrate,
so I win all round!

I am also sure that our recent rain has had a beneficial effect.

Thanks again, julie
--
juliepacker
------------------------------------------------------------------------
posted via www.GardenBanter.co.uk