Nitrite 5Ppm! In 6 Year Old Tank!

[misterpro]

Ammonia reading looks nice, but that nitrite
 
Did you test your tap water at the new house for ammonia/nitrite?  Perhaps you're chucking it in with every water change.
 
If nitrite stays sky high AND your tap water is checked to be safe, do as large a water change as possible.  Just leave enough room for your fish to swim upright.

 

[KirkyArcher]

Hello Emilythestrange, I think the question was asked by misterpro but I don't see a reply, Do you add tap water to the tank then add dechlorinator/conditioner, with internal filters it's best practice to either remove the filter completely from any exposure to "raw" tap water or as a second best option add the dechlorinator/conditioner to the tank then top up with tap water, even switching the filter off will not protect the bio media if its left in the tank of untreated water, so if this is indeed the case your nitrifying bacteria will have took quite a hit, 

 

[emilythestrange]

no i add the correct amount to the bucket and swirl, then tip it in! haha

 

[KirkyArcher]

Darn it, that's my attempt at being helpful kicked into touch! 

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Also, chlorine and chloramine, in the amounts that might come out of one's tap, will harm/kill fish long before they can harm/kill the bacteria.
 
Chlorine takes 39 times longer to penetrate the biofilm where the bacteria live than chloramine. Chloramine will not kill them, it basically puts them to sleep and when the chloramine is gone they revive. The chances are good clorime in tap water will evaportate out of a running tank before it can kill the bacteria off.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Emily- How are things in the tank today?

 

[emilythestrange]

hello,
 
tested today and it looks to be between 0.25 - 0.50ppm
 
 
wooooo
 
 
nearly there!

 

[GuineaPigster]

1 time I had a GIANT nitrate reading, but after a few days of daily water changes, it went back to normal.