Sometimes you can have a cycle started due to any shock. And in that process the increase in ammonia can cause a nitrItes spike as the nitrIte bacteria build up to create the nitrates. Just like in the initial cycle with no plants. but usually with extablished tanks those cycles are very small. Unless something has gone really really wrong.Thanks for your knowledge. Do you have any idea what causes spikes of nitrite? I know of a case where an established tank experience a problem of persistantly high nitrite and no nitrate being produced. I can't imagine what might cause that in a cycled tank except disruption of nitrite consuming bacteria. Any ideas?
Let it lieSo besides water change and vacuuming, having live plants, mature bacteria colony , not overstocking or over feeding, is there any thing else to look out for as an aquarium ages. Do you reccommend disturbing the sand or gravel bed to clean or is it better to leave it lie?
The latter is correctThese snails sound like an excellent way to help control nitrate by preventing ammonia from being produced in the first place. Or maybe they're just for cleaning? I guess if they produce ammonia themselves the net results might be 0 as far as nitrate is concerned. They are on my shopping list as cleaners in any case. Thanks for the tip.
IMHO food added to the aquarium will result in nitrates regardless of it if is eaten by snales, the fish, or rots on the bottom. That is assuming a balanced aquarium where aerobic bacteria is reducing the ammonia.These snails sound like an excellent way to help control nitrate by preventing ammonia from being produced in the first place. Or maybe they're just for cleaning? I guess if they produce ammonia themselves the net results might be 0 as far as nitrate is concerned. They are on my shopping list as cleaners in any case. Thanks for the tip.