How long will my nitrite...

[corrosive]

Hi, i really need to know how long roughly will my tank have high nitrite levels in the cycle, as it is worrying me lOl.

 

[Helium_Junkie]

Mine was under a week. When the Nitrites went off the chart I did a 40% waterchange so the fish didn't suffer so much, and bought nitrites down to a reasonable level. Next day Nitrites dropped to 0, and stayed there
3 weeks in all.

 

[corrosive]

Thanks

 

[corrosive]

Thanks

Would you recommend i do the same?

 

[corrosive]

Thanks

Would you recommend i do the same?

I did a 4 gallon water change, (two black buckets full) my Nitrite level seems to have come down a bit, which i am pleased about.

Thanks.

 

[Helium_Junkie]

Ah Well the water change is for the fishies benefit, as high nitrites are bad for them. But keep monitoring Once the nitrite eating bacteria develop the nitrites will fall rapidly

 

[corrosive]

Ah Well the water change is for the fishies benefit, as high nitrites are bad for them. But keep monitoring Once the nitrite eating bacteria develop the nitrites will fall rapidly

How long on average does it take? I have been checking water once or twice a day, and doing 1 black bucket full, water change each day as well.

 

[Chasing Puck]

IME, the nitrite consumers are slower than the ammonia consumers. These bacteria to be affected more by water parameters, notably pH, but not to the point of not developing unless you have extremely low pH. Most people experience a week-10 days of high nitrites, then seemingly overnight, they are gone. If it takes longer, check you pH, and make sure the KH is at least 3 ppm.

You can add 1 tsp salt per gallon of water to help the fish deal with the nitrites. The NACl prevents nitrites from inhibiting oxygen uptake on fish gills. I've used this level of salinity with a wide variety of fish, including FW puffers, cories, african butterflies, neons, blue tetras, gouramies, bristlenose, kuhli loaches, pulchers, and bettas. Plain old table salt works fine--it's a myth that iodized salt will cause a problem.

 

[corrosive]

Ok thanks, well if by say wednesday at the latest it hasnt gone down i will check my PH etc, and add "Normal table salt".

Then just pray it will go, because i mean in the space of 12-24hours it rose, that was a few days ago now though.

I will keep doing water changes daily.

 

[Helium_Junkie]

add "Normal table salt".

Not table salt.
Aquarium salt, from your LFS.
Table salt = bad.

Also, there is a particular method of doing this, you dont just chuck it into the tank, you remove 1 gallon of water, dissolve the salt then replace water. Wait a while for dispersion, then repeat. Do that once per gallon in your tank.

 

[Chasing Puck]

Before saying table salt = bad, please find some reliable reference for this. And, read: http/www.aaquaria.com/aquasource/salt.shtml

 

[Fishy Novice]

Hi this is my first time on here. My nitrite came down in about 4 weeks without water changes. I just left it to do its thing.

 

[clutterydrawer]

the ntirite spike is the lognest (= most frustrating!) part of the cycle

 

[corrosive]

Oh ####, well some of you may remember me posting something in fish emergencys the other week, about my platy staying at the top, well all day hes been up the top by my filter just resting there all day, now i find him at the bottom of the filter resting on the gravel, with his gills going in and out about 2-3times per second, just as im writing this he has moved about 1 inch to do what seems to be hide under my tunnel ornament.

IS HE GOING TO DIE?!? HELP

Edit: also when he was at the top of the tank he had a massive string of poop, which was there for over 1 hour.

 

[clutterydrawer]

uh oh

maybe he is a weak fish and not standing up to he cycling process too well?

what are your readings, currently?