Rise in nitrites.. problem?

[herefishy]

0 ammonia
0.25 nitrite <- huh?
10 nitrate

just did a 20% water change. anything to be concerned about?

also, i noticed some water overflowing from my bio-wheel, so I took out the filter and noticed it was pretty dirty. I don't have a replacement filter (yet) so I ran it under the sink to clean it up a bit. i'm not messing with the beneficial bacteria right?.. doesn't that grow on the wheel itself?

[zackish]

0 ammonia
0.25 nitrite <- huh?
10 nitrate

just did a 20% water change. anything to be concerned about?

also, i noticed some water overflowing from my bio-wheel, so I took out the filter and noticed it was pretty dirty. I don't have a replacement filter (yet) so I ran it under the sink to clean it up a bit. i'm not messing with the beneficial bacteria right?.. doesn't that grow on the wheel itself?

.25 isn't too too bad. I would keep an eye on it, like test it tomorow. If it gets up around .50 then I think something may be wrong.

[cocoa_pleco]

that number isnt the end of the world, just a little concern. do a few extra 15% water changes and find the possible cause

[jessie]

I clean alot of my filter supplies and pads that I am reusing in a bucket of tank water, but you are correct that in your filter, most of your beneficial bacteria is growing on your biowheel. You should be fine as long as you do not rinse your biowheel in tap water.