Help! Nitrates Through The Roof!

[emj0341]

Ok, I just tested my 10g freshwater tank and my nitrites are above 10ppm, and my nitrates are around 80 ppm, I just did a 20% water change, treated my new water with AquaSafe and EasyBalance but the levels are still high. My test kit says that anything above .5ppm of nitrites is bad, how do I fix this? Also what can i do to prevent it from happening again?

Currently my tank has: 5 small zebra danios (approx. 1 inch), 2 corydoras catfish (also small), 2 Dwarf Guaramis (both 1.5 inch) and one snail (medium sized).

I have adequate filtration, plenty of aeration, and temp stays at 78 degrees.

Anyone have any ideas about this?

Thanks,

Eli

 

[seb_negrete]

how old is the tank?
added any new fish recently?

also, it sounds like you're a bit overstocked.

i believe that the best you can do for right now is to do daily 20-25% water changes and get some fish out of there if possible.

 

[WILDER]

Plus danio's are active fish and really need a 20gal tank, also check filter to see if one of the sponges need a rinse, and daily water changes are needed.

 

[emj0341]

Ok, I was thinking of getting a hex 5 gal tank anyway, should i get it and put my danios in there? i used them to cycle the tank they are in. I will be getting a 29 gal when my taxes are back, and will have several small schools of community fish in there. Could i use them to cycle my 5gal hex then transfer them to the 29gal once i get it? If you think this will help ill have my wife pick up the 5 gal this afternoon....any ideas?

 

[WILDER]

No the tank is too small i would go with the 29gal.

 

[emj0341]

What about aquarium salt? My literature that came with my test kit says to add some, but most of what ive read before says that i do not need it whats your take on aquarium salt?

 

[WILDER]

Don't need salt as the corys are scaless fish and won't tolerate it, plus only need salt for high ammonia and nitrite levels.

 

[emj0341]

my nitrites are the problem... could i put the corys in a new tank and then salt the tank with the nitrIte problem?

 

[WILDER]

It does help but not with the corys in there, they can tolerate small amounts, but i don't think i would bother, i would look in the filter one of your sponge might need a rinse in old tank water, plus you need to fetch the nitrates down with water changes, small one's so you don't alter the stats to quickly.
http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=335

 

[emj0341]

What sorts of fish enjoy the taller hex tanks? I think i wanna get it anyway, its such a neat setup.

 

[WILDER]

Not much choice for fish for a five gallon tank, but would come in handy for a quarantine tank, or hospital tank, a betta.

 

[pokagon55]

Is it not true that the reson might be that the tank is not fully cycled or that the tank is on a mini cycle. With the nitrites that high I would say that the bacteria for nitrites is not yet established. Do you have plants in there? Are you useing ferterliser? That might be the reason the nitrates are up also. Most of the time after the nitrites have gone down the nitrates will start to rise showing that the cycle is over.