Small nitrite spike after a water change

iamntbatman

I did my weekly water change last night in my 20g and ran some tests today. My ammonia and nitrates were fine, but I was showing 0.25 ppm of nitrites. These always read zero since my tank cycled sometime last year, and I haven't had any deaths or additions to my tank. What could be causing this? The only thing I can think of is that I could have stirred up more stuff than usual because I moved a bunch of decor around to gravel vac under it.

Any reason to be worried? I'm probably over-reacting, but right after the test I started looking at plans to build a sponge filter

mitcore

it is very odd to get a nitrite spike after a clean and on a mature tank,
dont you normally move the decs around when cleaning to vac under them?
i am wondering if it a wrong reading have you re tested?

Flashygrrl

Test again later, maybe something in the tap water?

iamntbatman

Normally I move around some of the smaller decorations and plants and whatnot, but I have a fairly large heap of rocks that doesn't get moved too often.

I guess it's possible for my tap water to have nitrites or ammonia in it, although it usually tests clean. I'll test the tank water again to be sure it's gone down, but in the meantime, I'm still eyeing those sponge filter plans.

okiemavis

I always make sure to use a water conditioner that takes care of nitrites, just in case of things like that. I live in a big city, and I think my water comes from all over, so I never really know if it's going to change. Seachem Prime is my conditioner of choice. Not only does it work (which is nice) but it's ridiculously concentrated, so it lasts forever thereby costing me less money. Which means I have more money to spend on fish :D