New Substrate = High Nitrite

Okay, I've been through the ammonia phase by doing partial daily water changes, now it's giving me nitrite reading of 0.5 - 1 ppm. Is this a harmful level and can I get by just doing partial daily changes?

I have read about products which people add to their tanks to absorb the nitrite and I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with these and whether they actually work?

Should I, in fact just wait it out?

anne-marie i have to say it, i don't like your profile pic. what is it because its kinda freaky

Nathan, this is a still from Ed Wood Jnr's movie "Plan 9 from Outer Space". This chick is called Vampira - yeah, she's spooky. Plan 9 is known as the lamest movie ever made - I love bad movies, horror movies and 50's sci-fi schlock so you will find an array of weird avatars in the coming weeks. Feel free to ask which movies they are - I like to spread the suffering.

If you are cycling your tank why are you doing daily partial water changes? As for nitrite i would wait till they are all 0 and do a 50% water change before adding your pets.

You mean products that remove nitrites and nitrates you dont need them because you are cycling your tank which i hope/assume. Just be patient it should complete soon.

(Message edited by solaris on July 10, 2005)

Let me clarify - I'm not cycling my tank, it has been set up for ages and I have had axies living happily in it. I have just changed the substrate in it, which is temporarily stuffing up my chemistry. The day after changing the substrate, i got an ammonia reading which I never ever have in my tank. Over last week I was doing partial changes to lessen the harmful effect of the ammonia. Now the ammonia is gone, but nitrite readings are happening - in effect, it does seem to be cycling but I am not deliberately doing so. My question was - while it is nitrite phasing - is it better to leave it be, do water changes or use a product (and if use a product, which ones work.

anie marie how did you change the substrate? Would that be equivalent to tearing down a tank..your tank was established but is no more. Your substrate contains beneficial bacteria which helps keep the tank stable. Its natural to see ammonia and nitrite after changing the substrate. The Established filter at the moment is helping out. Just do water changes every 2 days i guess. 0.5-1ppm shouldnt hurt them. A nitrate reading would be helpful as well.

The addition of aquarium salt can mitigate the effects of nitrite toxicity and help the animals get through the tank recycling.
By changing the substrate you removed enough the biological filter to cause your tank to recycle.

Ed

I did the same thing to one of my tanks a few weeks ago. After a few days of fluctuations everything leveled out.
As long as your established filter is still going, the bacteria will re-colonise your new substrate in a few weeks.

Okay, great. So add some aquarium salt, do some water changes every few days - sounds good. Thanks guys.