High Nitrites, Aggressive Fish - Help

[cdncrouton]

Hi There,
I have three Colombian red-fin tetras (like Vito's - RIP Vito's fish). Everything was fine, we were testing the water regularily and they were getting beautiful colour and swimming happily. Had the tank for 3 weeks, it sat for a week, then I had new tank syndrome and bought three cardinal tetras which died within a couple of days.. Got myself educated and bought a couple of plants and some hardier fish and test kits. Have had these fish for 8 days. Testing water every day.

Suddenly, the water has spiked for Nitirite levels and one of the three fish is very aggressive now - he chases the other two around - and bonks them. They are showing signs of poisioning - gasping for air. I have done two water changes about 15%, one last night and one this morning. I haven't fed them today and am not sure what to do... HELP! Details below


ammonia: 0.1
nitrite: This morning it was bright purple - somewhere between 2 and 5 - I think it doesn't match anything on the chart. Was 5+ last night...

nitrate: 25
tank temp: 25

Fish # 1
Aggressive, gasping, lost most of red colour on fins and tails

Fish # 2
Sits in the corner, hangs upside down almost, gasping, sometimes goes near the top. Has the most colour of them all, but not as brilliant as it was a few days ago.

Fish #3
Shows some signs of fin rot (on his tail, it looks like their has been a "tear" (it's slightly feathered in one spot). Has some red colour

Volume and Frequency of water changes:
10-15% Day 2, 4, 7, 8(since having the fish)

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Using the waste control (Nutrafin), Cycle, and Aqua Clear all according to directions. Added some "Aqua Balance" which is supposed to reduce dangerous levels. Brought the Nitrite down from 5+

Tank inhabitants:

Just the three red fin tetras

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
2 live plants (b something I think) which are good for beginners - but they are getting brown spots and holes.. any help there?

thanks so much! P.S I'm Canadian.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Water changes are by far the best way to lower ammonia and nitrites, i would increase the water changes from 15% to 20-30% whenever you see nitrites or ammonia in the tank as long as you don't take out more than 60% of tank water a day.
I would avoid using too many chemicals in the tank particually ones designed to lower things like nitrites, nitrates and ammonia as they can somtimes prolong or mess up the cycle- water changes are a much better way or getting rid of ammmonia and nitrites. The only chemicals you should be using right now is dechlorinator/water conditioner to remove chlorine from the water and chemicals that may aid the cycle of the tank by incouraging or introducing good filter bacteria growth in your filter sponge to help break down the ammonia and nitrates .
Adding an air stone or raising the tank filter so it creates lots of bubbles in the tank water will help ease your fishes stress by creating more oxygen in the water. How many gallons is the tank and what temp is the water set at currently ?
Can't help you much with the plants, somone will probably be able to help you out with those in the plant section of te forum .

 

[cdncrouton]

Hi There,
I have three Colombian red-fin tetras (like Vito's - RIP Vito's fish). Everything was fine, we were testing the water regularily and they were getting beautiful colour and swimming happily. Had the tank for 3 weeks, it sat for a week, then I had new tank syndrome and bought three cardinal tetras which died within a couple of days.. Got myself educated and bought a couple of plants and some hardier fish and test kits. Have had these fish for 8 days. Testing water every day.

Suddenly, the water has spiked for Nitirite levels and one of the three fish is very aggressive now - he chases the other two around - and bonks them. They are showing signs of poisioning - gasping for air. I have done two water changes about 15%, one last night and one this morning. I haven't fed them today and am not sure what to do... HELP! Details below


ammonia: 0.1
nitrite: This morning it was bright purple - somewhere between 2 and 5 - I think it doesn't match anything on the chart. Was 5+ last night...

nitrate: 25
tank temp: 25

Fish # 1
Aggressive, gasping, lost most of red colour on fins and tails

Fish # 2
Sits in the corner, hangs upside down almost, gasping, sometimes goes near the top. Has the most colour of them all, but not as brilliant as it was a few days ago.

Fish #3
Shows some signs of fin rot (on his tail, it looks like their has been a "tear" (it's slightly feathered in one spot). Has some red colour

Volume and Frequency of water changes:
10-15% Day 2, 4, 7, 8(since having the fish)

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Using the waste control (Nutrafin), Cycle, and Aqua Clear all according to directions. Added some "Aqua Balance" which is supposed to reduce dangerous levels. Brought the Nitrite down from 5+

Tank inhabitants:

Just the three red fin tetras

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
2 live plants (b something I think) which are good for beginners - but they are getting brown spots and holes.. any help there?

thanks so much! P.S I'm Canadian.

Thanks so much! Duh - I guess the size would have helped. It is a 10 gallon and the water is set at 25. The filter is on just about the highest setting - should I put it to the highest? It seems to create a large current and I am not sure if the fish like it. I am just so worried about my little guys.

I'll try another water change later today. I've tested the water again about an hour after this morning's water change and the nitrite seems to be dropping. It looks to now be a little less than two. It is so hard to match the colours to the scale they give you! So it seems to have dropped at least 3 ratings in about 12 hours.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

They'll be fine with the filter current at its strongest, as far as i'm aware Colombian Redfin Tetra's originate from fast flowing streams anyways so they enjoy a nice current in the water- here is a profile on them, which as far as i am aware is quite accurate/good;

http/www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/347.htm

You'll need to increase their numbers to 6 once the tank has finished cycling- tetras are shoaling species of fish, they group together for defence in the wild, and when in too smaller numbers they can become easily stressed and may show odd behaviour that they usually wouldn't.
Just keep up with those water changes and make sure the water is well oxygenated for the time being and they should be fine . You should aim to have 0 nitrites and ammonia, with nitrates preferably under 40; keep an eye on the tetras health to make sure they don't encounter any deseases in this tricky part of the tanks maturation .

 

[cdncrouton]

Thanks so much! You have been so helpful! We want to get more, but were told by the LFS to not have more than 2-3 fish when starting a tank. Nitrates are good, Ammonia won't quite get to 0, but close, nitrites were always very low until yesterday.



Also - sorry - does anyone know why one of them is being so aggressive? They were very peaceful and got along great until yesterday. The one fish keeps chasing the others and nipping at them. I don't know what to do.

 

[edgun88]

just have lots of circulation of waer in the tank, i have a long airstone and my filter, which make lots of oxygen