HELP - Nitrite Emergency!!

[fatbobsufc]

Oh no - I've got problems - I hope someone can help! I just checked my water and got the following results:

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 1.5~2.5
Nitrate 50~100
pH 8

(sorry for vagueness, test kits are hard to read)

Been cycling for two weeks and I haven't tested my water for a few nights as I thought the cycling process would be a lot slower than this. Is this the nitrite spike? What should I do? Should I do a water change? The problem is I don't have any mature water. All I have is some tap safe that I use for my goldfish. Should I use this? I was hoping to keep the aquarium chemical free but I guess this is an emergency. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP - I don't want the little Platies to suffer Please hurry

 

[fatbobsufc]

Well no-one's replied so I didn't really dare to do anything. i have to go to bed now as I start work very early. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed that if a water change is essential that it can wait until tomorrow

 

[Ob1]

Hi fatbobsufc

First of all, do not worry. You have tested your water, and your say you are currently cycling your tank. I to have the same problem reading the test results – I now stick to my very first option i.e look at the results and deside within 2-3 seconds – any longer and it becomes very hardJ

Nitrite 1.5~2.5
Nitrate 50~100

The first thing do a water change now, at least 20% and then do smaller 5% 10% water changes – Daily until Nirites is sub 0.10.

You should always treat tap water – I learnt the hard way and lost all my harlequins within two days – but note it had taken over 2 week for me to realise my error!

I’m assuming you have tropical fish, and they are in your current cycling tank? I would not use fish to help cycling it can be done within themJ

However do the water change, I would ensure the main tank light is off while changing the water, this may help reduce fish stress – they will be prone to the poor water conditions.

My Nitrate is approx 20-50mg I my fish look great
My Nitrite is 0.10 unable to get it to zero – do not know why?



Keep us upto date, the whole forum is watching, I’m sure other people will offer support and help


Cya

 

[smb]

I would say to do partial wc's daily if you are cycling with fish. Don't clean the gravel tho, just take a little water out. 5% wc's would probably be ok.

This will most likely prolong the cycling process.

 

[Ob1]

fatbobsufc - I was unable to sleep while I had my problems Too just noted you are back


hi

 

[fatbobsufc]

I'm at work now guys and have just read all the replies. Thanks for the help - I'll do a water change as soon as I get home. i have left 3 four gallon buckets standing overnight and have agitated them this morning. Should these be sufficiently de-chlorinised to be able to use? Or should I still use the tap-safe?

 

[SurrogateFishMom]

Thought I would respond because you are working against the clock... and waiting for a reply.

I am not an expert, but feel that treating your tap water is a really EASY, inexpensive way to prevent your fish from suffering and perhaps dying... There might be other chemicals in the tap that won't be removed unless you add a special conditioner... why take the risk??? I would do it without second thought. I don't think many of the other people on here will recommend not using it either, and those who have the most experience probably never would....

Feel free anyone to prove me wrong about the last claim. I don't think it is a radical one to make, though.

I know that when my tanks were having a real nitrite spike (5-10)... it really helped to do small, frequent water changes. It didn't upset the cycle, yet reduced some of the stress and load on my poor fishies (sorry, I didn't know!) and the bacteria.

If the nitrate is increasing, then you should be soon over with it all.

Good luck!

 

[Jo]

Firstly, Yes, treat your tap water with some conditioner/de-cholrinator. I use stress coat and stress zyme, using both of them will de chorinate your water and add some of the beneficial bacteria that your tank needs to help convert the nitrite.

Secondly, don't worry, we all get problems from time to time and I'm glad you didn't panic when you weren't really sure what you were doing and asked the forum.

Let us know how it goes.!

 

[Cian McLiam]

Hi, hope the nitirite spike is easing, this is the only way of getting your tank to cycle but the nitrite spike is a good sign that the process has started. The important thing to do now is DONT PANIC!! This is a natural process and the more you intervene the longer it takes. You have chosen to cycle with fish, so Im afraid you must accept that you may lose some fish. The only fish I have found to withstand the whole cycling process with little signs of stress are the white cloud mountain minnow, but these are a bit small to cycle a tank with. Adding some salt will reduce the toxicity of nitrite to fish and as you have platies, it is a good idea to add a little salt anyway. If you have tetras or catfish in there, you will need to hold off on the salt though.
If you are using water from the tap, you could let it stand fo 48 hours with an air stone in the container this will disperse chlorine but not chloramines, so if you do have chloramines, you need a good water conditioner. If you dont know which is in your water, use the de-chlorinator.

Ken

 

[fatbobsufc]

Thanks everyone for your concern and advice. I did a 15% water change last night to try and ease the effect of the nitrites on my fish. I did the water change with the tank light off and treated the water with de-chlorinator and stress relief beforehand. I will continue to do a 5% water change nightly now.

Couldn't believe how lively my little platies were. Whilst I was doing the water change they seemed to be basking in the fresh water. And afterwards their activity levels were very high as they hunted round for the bits of food that the water changed had dislodged!

 

[platypus]

Yay glad to hear your fish seem happier! Just keep on doing regular water changes and and tests until those nitrites come down.

I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned, but do you have live plants in your tank? If so these will help to reduce the nitrAtes as they will use it as fertiliser.

 

[fatbobsufc]

I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned, but do you have live plants in your tank? If so these will help to reduce the nitrAtes as they will use it as fertiliser.

Yes I do have live plants Platypus. The fish seem much happier since I put them in.

I know this is a silly question because all setups are different. But if someone can answer from their experience, how long should I expect (roughly) for the nitrites to begin to reduce from the point i am currently at?

 

[christine]

I've got platies too, my nitrite peaked suddenly about 3 weeks ago...I recommend daily 10-15% water changes good luck

 

[wuvmybetta]

Try some Prime,it's a dechlorinator but it also helps detoxify nitrites so that they're easier for your bio-filter to break down