Water levels spiked after first water change, normal?

[omeqa]

He’ll everyone,

My 15G nano tank just hit 3 weeks from water cycling. I was testing the water daily for a week and on 1/17/25 my levels dropped to 0 with nitrates finally being visible.

NO3 levels were at a 50. I did my first water change 33% (5 gallons).

The following morning I did some more water restating and my levels tested differently.
Ammonia= <.15
NO2= .25
NO3= 25 (dropped by half)

I did not want to do another water change considering my tank is still new. I did not want to risk removing too much beneficial bacteria.

I tested the water today and my results are the same.

One thing I should note, I have an emerald crab in the tank that I added on 1/17 after I did my water change. The crab has been doing well! He’s been picking things off rocks and eating a bit of pellet food. He’s pretty active, too. I only have him in there. I didn’t want to risk having too many livestock, yet.

Any recommendations on what to do next?

I am using salifert tests. Ps: I find reading the results a bit tricky…

 

[mann1139]

He’ll everyone,

My 15G nano tank just hit 3 weeks from water cycling. I was testing the water daily for a week and on 1/17/25 my levels dropped to 0 with nitrates finally being visible.

NO3 levels were at a 50. I did my first water change 33% (5 gallons).

The following morning I did some more water restating and my levels tested differently.
Ammonia= <.15
NO2= .25
NO3= 25 (dropped by half)

I did not want to do another water change considering my tank is still new. I did not want to risk removing too much beneficial bacteria.

I tested the water today and my results are the same.

One thing I should note, I have an emerald crab in the tank that I added on 1/17 after I did my water change. The crab has been doing well! He’s been picking things off rocks and eating a bit of pellet food. He’s pretty active, too. I only have him in there. I didn’t want to risk having too many livestock, yet.

Any recommendations on what to do next?

I am using salifert tests. Ps: I find reading the results a bit tricky…

Bacteria are on surfaces, not in the water. Wc won't remove them.

What is your ammonia source? Is it still introducing more into the system?

 

[omeqa]

Bacteria are on surfaces, not in the water. Wc won't remove them.

What is your ammonia source? Is it still introducing more into the system?

When I started the tank, I used an ammonia/beneficial bacteria starter that came with my nano kit. Other than that— I ghost fed here and there. Not too frequently. Now that the emerald crab is in the tank, I’ll feed it (3-5 pellets) a day.