high nitrates, and nitrites

[offutt_chris]

hey guys, my nitrites, and nitrates are really really high, and ive been putting chemicals in to lower the level, but nothing seems to be working, and ive changed 25% of the water each day for the last 3 days, and still nothing. any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

 

[fishINboots]

Sounds like your cycle hasn't finished yet or you have some kind of mini cycle happening . Water changes are probably the best you can do at this stage, your bacteria are still developing. Eventually the nitrite will have to be broken down to nitrate.

Can I ask, have you added more fish? If you have any readings ammonia or nitrite (i'm assuming you have cycled?) there are not enough bacteria to cope with your fish load. Also make sure you don't clean your filter media with untreated tap water or you will destroy most of your bacteria

 

[offutt_chris]

yea, i just put some new fish in, but it was high even before the fish got introduced. and the tank has been established for almost a month now also.

 

[fishINboots]

why you add the fish with high readings ? Anyway, just keep doing water changes and hope your fish get past it.

 

[offutt_chris]

i dont know, i just wanted some new fish, lol. and the other ones are doing fine, so i didnt figure it would affect the new ones any either.

 

[fishINboots]

gotta be more patient, otherwise you might start having casualties . Slowly stock your tanks and don't add fish with high nitrite/nitrate levels!

 

[offutt_chris]

just one more question, how would i go about cleaning my gravel since im a freshman in college and live in a stupid dorm?

 

[fishINboots]

get a gravel cleaner. It's like an open cyclinder with a tube from an end. You siphon the water out and it sucks out all the crap without bringing the gravel with it.