Nitirite & Nitrate Too High ???

[fishfan2007]

Hello

Guys i'm new to all this, my yank has been running for 6 weeks i did a fishless cycle and it completed in 5 weeks. I have my tank fully stocked and the ammonia is fine showing 0ppm but the nitrite is now showing 5ppm and the nitrate 40ppm. why the sudden nitrite spike, i have cleaned the filters in the water taken from the aquarium when i did my weekly wayer change i did 50% like i was told.

I don't understand can anyone help, oh and how do i get the nitrite down? More water changes i'm guessing but i want to make sure.

Cheers

[Lady Hobbs]

Did you do a fishless cycle with ammonia? Not sure why it would take 6 weeks. You can cycle with ammonia in less than 2 weeks generally.

Your nitrite level is still in the safe zone and that should disappear soon. However, you may wish to check your tap water. You could have it coming right from the tap. Don't let your nitrates go over 40 and 10-20 would be much better.

Back to add: I think I know what has happened. I bet when you stocked with fish, you had a bit of an ammonia spike which would go back to zero very quickly as you have the ammonia eating bacteria to get rid of it in short order. But this would still cause a small amount of nitrites again because it takes a bit longer to get rid of them. I see no problem for you othering than keeping that nitrate down and another water change may do that for you.

[RobbieG]

If your tap water tests clean for nitrite/nitrate you may have added a couple of more fish than you had prepared for with your cycle. It may be a just a small spike while the tank adjusts to the bioload.