Fry Tank Has High Nitrites

[evelester]

ok, I have my fry tank with just the 20 or so little babies in there (they are about 4 weeks old now- no deaths) I took the momma out after birth. It is a 5 gallon with a filter with a bio wheel, and has a heater and a air stone. The temp has remained steady at 78 or so and the tank was cycled before we introduced any fish (did a fishless cycle) all was going well until this week, when all of the sudden nitrite levels spiked to .25 (I test every other day except this week and it has been weekly.)

So on Monday, it was .25 (ammonia 0, Nitrates 10, ph 7.2) I did a 2 gallon water change and it went to 0, the next day I tested again and it was at 1.0, all other remain the same, so I did another 2 gallon water change, on weds. it was back to 0, and now today it was back up to .75, I did another 2 gallon water change and right now it is still at .75- I am going to do a 3 gallon change in a few minutes.

The fish are acting fine, and the test kit is right, all my other tanks are testing out at 0 as normal.

I was feeding a bit too much, they are off of the liquid food now and eating finely crushed dry food and weekly I give them a few blood worms, when I cleaned the gravel during the water change there was alot of excess food, so I am going to cut back, but how much is enough for babies, I was doing 3-4 times a day, but looks like they are not eating it all. Is it time to go down to once a day? are they ready? I am so confused.

When I do the next 3 gallon water change I am also picking up any leftover food I didnt get last time, and last water change I took out the few artificial plants and rinsed them and the filter well in the old tank water to get residue off of it, so I am hoping after this last 3 gallon change the nitrites will be back down...

What do you think, is this normal? How much should I be feeding 4 week old guppy fry... and at what point will they develop colors, only one has a tiny bit of black showing up on his tail right by his rear They are so adorable! Thanks in advance!

 

[theotheragentm]

Are all fish accounted for in the tank? It seems strange to have a nitrite spike without an ammonia spike as well, even a slight one. If the temperature is constant, the bacteria should not be dying off. I know nitrite spikes are possible if the temperature drops real low, but that would kill the fish first. Keep up water changes and hope you get stabilized.

Colors show up generally at 2-3 months from what I've seen.

 

[evelester]

all fish are accounted for, and I took out all of the plants and did a good gravel clean when I siphoned just in case, I JUST finished doing the last 3 gallon change and it is finally down to 0 again, and all the old food is finally cleaned up, so HOPEFULLY it will stay at 0.

and that is what was so scary, that I had no ammonia spikes, just nitrite, hopefully it was just a fluke and it will never happen again.. but i will keep testing daily to be sure-- thanks for the info on when they get the color!

 

[theotheragentm]

What are you using to test your water? I know some people will disagree with me, but I found strip tests to be regularly inaccurate. Liquid tests are what I use. They are only inaccurate on the low end of nitrates from my experience, which is safe.

 

[evelester]

I only use liquid test kit-- the Freshwater Master Kit, and like I said, all ofther tanks are testing where they should be

BUT- since the last 3 gallon water change and removing all of the leftover food and whshing the plants, the levels are staying at 0, where they should be, I will retest again in a bit- hopefully everything is still 0 and it ws just because of all of the leftover food- there was a lot hidden in the back behind the plants that i got out when I did the last siphon.

crossing fingers!!