Hey, im that new to tropical fish keeping,but... Im having trouble with gettin rid of Nitrate/Nitrite... Ive cleaned the gravel and changed the water, but there was still the same amount in my tank... I tested literaly a minuite afterwards.... Can somebody help me...Thanx..!!
How do i get rid of Nitrite/Nitrate
- Thread starter bigez
- Start date
S
smb
Guest
OK, first we have to know what you mean. Nitrite and nitrate mean 2 totally dif things.
Do you mean you have high levels of both?
What exactly are the readings?
Then we have to find out how to get rid of the high readings, but just as important find out how to prevent them. If we don't, they'll be right back.
Please give as much info as possible.
Tank size, how long set up, all readings, all fish kept etc.
Do you mean you have high levels of both?
What exactly are the readings?
Then we have to find out how to get rid of the high readings, but just as important find out how to prevent them. If we don't, they'll be right back.
Please give as much info as possible.
Tank size, how long set up, all readings, all fish kept etc.
fishdude
Fishaholic
If your nitrite is high get Aquarium salt but make sure you have no bottom feeders unless they hve scales which are very few. i recommend it. it helps open fish's gills.
Ok.. Ive got a 80cm by 30cm tank... The reading was round about 2.0ppm to 5.0ppm of NITRITE... ive got 2 pearl gouramis,2 gold fish,2 platies and 3 penguin tetras... its been circulating now for 4 weeks....and iv only done 2 water changes (including cleanin gravel)... i did one last night after testing the water... and then tested again aftwerwards and it was the same..!!
It does look like you have an overloaded filtration system that isn't coping with the fish you have. If you have a new tank that has only been cycling for 4 weeks, the amount of fish you have will be excreting too much for your filter to deal with.
Do you have any live plants in the tank? What are the ammonia levels, I would bet they are also high, as often they go hand in hand.
You have two solutions. 1) Don't feed your fish too much, aim to have no food sinking to the bottom into the substrate. Due to the fact you have no bottom feeders, it is likely there is a lot of uneaten food decomposing. Water changes only draws water from one zone. 2) If the tests persists to show high levels of nitrites, you can purchase a nitrite absorbtion pillow from the lfs. This is a resin that draws in all nirtites/nitrates. It is however only for short term use and quite expensive.(Nitra-Zorb). You will need to investigate the reason for the build up. Just one more thing, when you do your water changes, do you also clean out your filter media in tapwater or do you discard it, or do you do something else?
Do you have any live plants in the tank? What are the ammonia levels, I would bet they are also high, as often they go hand in hand.
You have two solutions. 1) Don't feed your fish too much, aim to have no food sinking to the bottom into the substrate. Due to the fact you have no bottom feeders, it is likely there is a lot of uneaten food decomposing. Water changes only draws water from one zone. 2) If the tests persists to show high levels of nitrites, you can purchase a nitrite absorbtion pillow from the lfs. This is a resin that draws in all nirtites/nitrates. It is however only for short term use and quite expensive.(Nitra-Zorb). You will need to investigate the reason for the build up. Just one more thing, when you do your water changes, do you also clean out your filter media in tapwater or do you discard it, or do you do something else?
yeah thanx bro....that does help "ALLOT".....now...i always clean the filter and that, and it is due a new sponge....(or whateva u call it).....i have a plant aswell...so..ill go and test the tap water now....and i will get my sherlock holmes outfit on and investigate it like HELL...!! thanx bro...peace
When you clean the filter media, what I suggest you do is to hold back some of the water you draw from your tank, rinse only the media, in your case the sponge in the drawn water and replace the sponge back into the filter. It doesn't matter if the sponge still looks a little bit dirty, that's natural. All you want to do is to rise out the major debris, you are not aiming to have a clean spotless sponge. The beneficial bacteria will be living in the sponge. If you replace it you will have no bacteria left. If you also gravel clean regurarly in a new tank setup, any beneficial bacteria will also get sucked up. That is why it is so important not to let excess food build up on the bottom. Ideally you should get some type of botia, or corys to assist in the bottom clearup. Cautionary note here, if you do decide to go down that road, the introduction must be very gradual over a few weeks. Happy fishkeeping.
Ok...but...i have done all u said (except for the bottom feeder) before...But still the Nitrite was up...i dont understand how the hell it could be up....my tank is spotless from waste...the media is clean,yet has bacteria thriving on it....I recently had one of those tea bag like things...(sorry for the stupid comparisment) that takes out the nitrite and nitrate....So my guess is...i A)could have been over feeding a tiny bit 
, or B)Havnt a f*ckin clue...!!
, or B)Havnt a f*ckin clue...!!
S
smb
Guest
If you think it's from overfeeding, don't feed for a few days. That should help the bioload.
Wehey... Guess what...??
Got home today...Tested my water...And..!!!!!!
NO NITRITE...!!!!(No nothin in fact)
I aint fed them since sunday...(just to see if i was over feeding)...And i guess i was... So..I tested the water,and it was ok.... And then i fed them...
Do what i always do...(makin sure it dont go to the bottom) and all was ok..
So... I am writting now to thank all of the above...^^^...Who gave me advise and help on what to do..!!
THANK Y'ALL
Got home today...Tested my water...And..!!!!!!
NO NITRITE...!!!!(No nothin in fact)
I aint fed them since sunday...(just to see if i was over feeding)...And i guess i was... So..I tested the water,and it was ok.... And then i fed them...
Do what i always do...(makin sure it dont go to the bottom) and all was ok..
So... I am writting now to thank all of the above...^^^...Who gave me advise and help on what to do..!!
THANK Y'ALL
S
smb
Guest
Great news bigez! 
It's so easy for us to overfeed our fish and we all do it from time to time. I'm just glad it was so easy and you got the problem fixed and you learned something in the process. You can't beat that! B)
Also, if you get high nitrites again and think it's because of overfeeding, do a quick clean of the top of the gravel every night. (Shouldn't take more than 1 minute) and then you'll have a spotless tank all the time. I know this isn't a viable solution for everybody and am not suggesting we all should do it.
It's so easy for us to overfeed our fish and we all do it from time to time. I'm just glad it was so easy and you got the problem fixed and you learned something in the process. You can't beat that! B)
Also, if you get high nitrites again and think it's because of overfeeding, do a quick clean of the top of the gravel every night. (Shouldn't take more than 1 minute) and then you'll have a spotless tank all the time. I know this isn't a viable solution for everybody and am not suggesting we all should do it.
Alien Anna
Fish Gatherer
- Joined
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Hi - I suspect a lot of us are getting unexpected and sudden nitrite and ammonia peaks, due to the heat. High temperatures make bacteria grow like crazy, as well as fungal spores, so excess food could well be spoiling fast. If you've had any fish losses (which I know a lot of us have had too, as in indirect result of the heatwave, plus some people have had power outages), they could also bump up the bacteria count before the bodies were retrieved.
Judging from the algae bloom I had in my tanks when I got back off holiday, plus the dead fish and plants, I reckon I had an ammonia surge too, and I was detecting nitrite the first day I came back. My tanks were mature and had had stable stock in them for some months or years so it was definitely environmental problems (plus some over-feeding from my neighbour) that lead to the problem.
I didn't think I'd ever say this, but now I'm praying for autumn!
Judging from the algae bloom I had in my tanks when I got back off holiday, plus the dead fish and plants, I reckon I had an ammonia surge too, and I was detecting nitrite the first day I came back. My tanks were mature and had had stable stock in them for some months or years so it was definitely environmental problems (plus some over-feeding from my neighbour) that lead to the problem.
I didn't think I'd ever say this, but now I'm praying for autumn!
S
smb
Guest
I say that every year at the beginning of Summer.
I do 3-5 water changes a week so I don't notice a difference, but you are right, most people might see an increase with their params. Good info.
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