High nitrites

[leafs]

I just tested my 10 gal tank which has been up and running for a month now. My nitrites are 0.5. I just did a 50 % water change. Should I do water changes for a few days straight to bring it down? I'm assuming that this is around the time when the nitrites spike? Is there anything else I could do to lower the nitrites?

Thanks

 

[BobK]

I'm not an expert at cycling, but the more you do partial water changes during the cycling process, the longer it takes to cycle. Can you give more information? I assume you're cycling with fish, is that correct? If so, what fish are in your tank. What type of equipment do you have? What are your other water parameters? Please give us as much information as possible so we'll be able to help you better.

 

[WILDER]

You can do water changes, but only advised when the fish are stressed due to high nitrite, I wouldn't do 50% I would do less, same as some one mentioned it will delay your cycle.

 

[kev_kb]

In my experience water changes don't delay the cycle. The bacteria that builds up in the cycling process are surface mounted, and so very few are contained in the water itself. If you have fish in there I would do 25% water changes as needed to keep Ammonia & Nitrite under 0.5ppm.

 

[leafs]

I started cycling with 3 danios, then I added a couple of Lemon Tetras a couple of weeks later. I'm using a Aquaclear mini. I haven't checked the ammonia, but I will tonight. I also forgot to mention that I was using Quick cure for a mild case of ick. I just stopped using it a day ago. The fish seem fine now. I also put the carbon back in the filter. Maybe the medication screwed things up?

 

[WILDER]

Your meds have put the tank back into a mini cycle, how long as the tank been set up.

 

[leafs]

Your meds have put the tank back into a mini cycle, how long as the tank been set up.

It's been up for a month. I read somewhere that the meds shouldn't mess with the bacteria.

 

[kev_kb]

It will depend on the meds, it should say on the packet if it does as its something you need to know about!

 

[BobK]

Water changes will delay your cycling. If you drastically lower the amount of nitrites you remove the food for the bacteria that changes the nitrites into nitrates. If your fish appear to be tolerating the high nitrites well you may want to do only small (10-15%) water changes. That will speed up the growth of your bacteria colony and reduce the cycle time.

 

[leafs]

Water changes will delay your cycling. If you drastically lower the amount of nitrites you remove the food for the bacteria that changes the nitrites into nitrates. If your fish appear to be tolerating the high nitrites well you may want to do only small (10-15%) water changes. That will speed up the growth of your bacteria colony and reduce the cycle time.

I'm confused, one person says change the water , one person says don't change the water. My fish appear to be fine, but who really knows. This is one thing I find a little frustrating about fishkeeping. There are some many different opinions on they way to do things. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate everyones advise.

 

[WILDER]

Don't worry we all have been their getting confused at times, only change the water if the fish are stressed or gasping at the top of the tank, hope this helps.

 

[leafs]

Don't worry we all have been their getting confused at times, only change the water if the fish are stressed or gasping at the top of the tank, hope this helps.

O.k. I will. They seem pretty healthy right now. I'll have to watch them and keep testing. I also added an airstone for more oxygen and some salt. Thanks.

 

[isu_guy]

disclaimer: I don't claim to be an expert-


Ok basically- ammonia is food to one form of bacteria, nitrites are food to another form.

if you want to cycle quickly- having lots (in terms of what fish can tolerate) of ammonia will soon build up the ammonia eating bacteria and will yield lots (in terms of what fish can tolerate) nitrite. Having all that nitrite will help grow the nitrite eating bacteria.

having just enough "food" any organisim will stay in equalibrium, having an excess of food (without any other hazards) the number of the organisim will grow until it reaches equilibrium.

So, in your case, if you leave more nitrites in the water (by not doing as much water changing) you decrease the excess "food" (aka nitrites) and that form of bacteria do not grow as quickly, and your tank will not be fully cycled as quick.
BUT if you do not remove the nitrites, it could have adverse effects on your fish.

In the ideal world, you'd be able to steal some bacteria from a set up tank, cycle fishlessly allowing bacteria to grow quickly without harming any fish, then just do a large water change and insert all the fish you want. That isn't your case (wasn't mine while setting up either).
My advice, do water changes often. its better to cycle slowly than deal with tons of problems that were cause by poor water.

good luck

 

[leafs]

disclaimer: I don't claim to be an expert-


Ok basically- ammonia is food to one form of bacteria, nitrites are food to another form.

if you want to cycle quickly- having lots (in terms of what fish can tolerate) of ammonia will soon build up the ammonia eating bacteria and will yield lots (in terms of what fish can tolerate) nitrite. Having all that nitrite will help grow the nitrite eating bacteria.

having just enough "food" any organisim will stay in equalibrium, having an excess of food (without any other hazards) the number of the organisim will grow until it reaches equilibrium.

So, in your case, if you leave more nitrites in the water (by not doing as much water changing) you decrease the excess "food" (aka nitrites) and that form of bacteria do not grow as quickly, and your tank will not be fully cycled as quick.
BUT if you do not remove the nitrites, it could have adverse effects on your fish.

In the ideal world, you'd be able to steal some bacteria from a set up tank, cycle fishlessly allowing bacteria to grow quickly without harming any fish, then just do a large water change and insert all the fish you want. That isn't your case (wasn't mine while setting up either).
My advice, do water changes often. its better to cycle slowly than deal with tons of problems that were cause by poor water.

good luck

That makes sense. The cyclying might take a little longer, but the fish won't be harmed or too stressed. Thanks.

 

[kev_kb]

Only change the water if the fish are stressed or gasping at the top of the tank, hope this helps.

I would strongly disagree with this advice, if you wait for symptoms that your fish are unhealthy you will most likely be changing water far too late to do any good. Ammonia & Nitrite are both very harmful for fish and the levels can raise very rapidly whilst cycling with fish.

As long as there is some Ammonia & Nitrite the tank will cycle just fine. I cycled a tank from scratch with no used filter media or anything and it took a few days short of one month. During this time I did lots of water changes and aimed to keep Ammonia & Nitrite around 0.25 with a max of 0.5ppm. From what I have read this is around the normal time a new tank should take to cycle.

Remember, prevention is better than cure!