|
Post by parker002 on Jan 22, 2020 16:38:07 GMT -5
So I have my 2 axolotls in a 20G long tank. It has been established for a few weeks now.
For filtration, I'm running my chiller with a Marineland 1200 powerhead I found in all my fish stuff. I have an API Filter #3 Pro on it for a pre-filter. I also have an air-driven Filter Max #3 (that I bought from AAP many moons ago) for additional bio-filtration.
As I mentioned, the tank was established with both Ammonia Alert reading zero (yellow) and nitrites reading zero. Yesterday, I was installing a cooling fan in my cabinet and evidently jostled the output hose on the powerhead, knocking it loose. I unplugged the powerhead, reinserted the hose, and somehow forgot to plug the powerhead back in.
This morning I noticed my axolotls acting stressed so I checked the water. First and foremost, the lack of flow to the chiller had increased the water to almost 70 degrees but that problem was easy to fix by just starting the flow again. The second problem is a little more of an issue.
I tested the water and even though ammonia still appears to be zero, the nitrites were off the charts, as pink as the test strip would go. I immediately did a 25% water change and added Prime and Stability to the water, as well as replaced the wonder shell. My axolotls act quite a bit less stressed now but I'm worried about the tank long term.
Why would my ammonia filtration be fine but my nitrite filtration crash over the course of like only 12 hours? Do I need additional filtration? Is there something else I should do?
|
|
|
Post by devonjohnsgard on Jan 23, 2020 11:40:51 GMT -5
I think you did the right thing... I wonder if the temp swing had something to do with it. Bacteria are affected by temp too?
I would just watch everything for now.
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Jan 23, 2020 17:58:13 GMT -5
Honestly, this doe not make complete sense to me either, as this was only one day. My guess is the bacteria that convert nitrites to nitrates were affected while those that convert ammonia to nitrites were not.
Other than adding Stability & Prime, and maybe a water change, I would not do anything more
|
|