Re: 3 Weeks into my new setup...

Chris, welcome to the newsgroup!

> Then I went about checking my ammonia
> and nitrite levels.  My ammonia reading was
> basically zero, but my nitrite was at about 1.6.  That seems a bit
> high.  I have been doing 20-25% water changes weekly, so I'm a bit
> surprised at that.

In regards to the high nitrite reading -- It could be that your tank is still cycling and that's why you see the nitrites. The cycle is in 3 stages. (1) ammonia changes into nitrites, (2) nitrites changes into nitrates, (3) Nitrates are removed by water changes, aquarium plants and other methods.

Once the ammonia is in the tank one kind of good bacteria changes it into nitrites. Then a SECOND good bacteria developes to change the nitrites into nitrates. I'd guess that you are in the 2nd stage of the cycle. The "ammonia eating" bacteria is established and now the "nitrite eating" bacteria is starting to develop. There has to be nitrites before the "nitrite eating" bacteria can get started. So I urge patience. It will work.

coolchinchilla
.

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