Problems with tank numbers?

[cabbysarus]

So, it seams to me that there is far too little nitrite and nitrate in our tank, but our ammonia levels aren't outrageous either. They're a little higher than a properly cycling tank should be, and were doing water changes every other day because of it. Do we need live plants to produce more nitrites?

 

[HermitMandy]

So, it seams to me that there is far too little nitrite and nitrate in our tank, but our ammonia levels aren't outrageous either. They're a little higher than a properly cycling tank should be, and were doing water changes every other day because of it. Do we need live plants to produce more nitrites?

Plants won't help produce more nitrites. Plants will help eat up the ammonia and nitrates,though.
Judging by how you're doing water changes every other day to keep the ammonia down, I'm assuming this tank has an inhabitant? If I'm wrong and it doesn't, I wouldn't change the water so frequently. Let the ammonia build up, so the bacteria can colonize better.
What are your numbers, exactly? Everybody has a different definition of what too little is.

 

[allied123]

Uhmm there's no such thing as too little? You definitely don't want any ammonia or nitrites as they are pretty harmful to any animal....nitrates should be UNDER 40 you definitely don't want any high numbers any where. Maybe I'm misunderstanding your question? If you're in the process of cycling you still don't want nitrites. For your end product you want to be able to dose ammonia up to 4.0 and have that go to 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites within 24 hours.

 

[cabbysarus]

There are no nitrites or nitrates in the tank. Only ammonia. Yes, I have several babies in the tank. They are happy little critters,but im assuming they are only doing well because I'm doing watter changes so frequently. From my understanding nitrite eats the ammonia. With no nitrite we have nothing to eat the ammonia and that's why we have to do so many water changes.

 

[CatSpit]

Here's some good information regarding water quality and it has links in it to explain the "cycling" process. It's good that you are doing the water changes to keep the ammonia down, once the beneficial bacteria builds up and your ammonia level goes down you will start finding your nitrite levels go up - nitrite is also harmful to the critters in your tank so you will want to continue water changes until you develop the beneficial bacteria that will bring your nitrites down. At the end of cycling you will want 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites when you test the water. Nitrates are ok, but you will want to keep them in check, you don't want high levels. Anyways, check out this link:

Caudata Culture Articles - Water Quality

 

[cabbysarus]

Ok, so nitrite will just start to build up on its own. That was what I was confused about. I didn't know if there was a way to help it along or not.