Nitrite Spike!

[cJw]

So I do my 15% pwc last night, expecting my test results to again be .5, .5, 20 (NH3,NO2,NO3) and instead, the NH3 is GONE! woot!

NO2 has spiked up to 2.0 (looked like maybe 3.0) and NO3 is up to 30 now!

So, recently I've read in threads here that frequent pwcs are the way to dilute the NO3 presence in your tank; how much do plants help with that?

 

[BrianNY]

Plants will help reduce the NO3 if the tank is heavily planted. At this stage you should be doing daily PWC to minimize the stress to your fish. Don't disturb the gravel at all, or clean the filters. Just make your changes from the water column.

 

[cJw]

Duly noted; thanks for the info.

I wasn't planning a 'heavily' planted tank, only perhaps 3 or 4 low light/tech plants - will they help at all? I'm sure I'll still be doing pwc regularly, I'm mostly just curious how they will effect the toxicity levels. . .

 

[BrianNY]

A lightly planted tank will do nothing to offset the nitrate build up.

 

[cJw]

But the plants will be happier there than in a plant-less tank, no?