Nitrite Level Not Spot On

[scoobyandy]

Hey,

I have set up my Goldfish tank and it has been running without fish for about 2 weeks. It is 30 ltrs. I have done tests on it and the only level that is not spot on is nitrite. It is currently showing at 2-3ppm. The booklet says that it may spike to 5ppm and then go down to 0 in an established tank. Should we wait for it to get down to 0 or can we add the fish now? The fish is in an old tank waiting to get in his new home, but we don't want to harm him putting him in if the tank isn't safe for him.

Will the level go down on its own with water changes or does it need some life in there?

Help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Andy

 

[iairj84]

Wait for the level to go down, it will probably only be another week. Once your nitrites are down then you can much easier control the nitrates and they are much less toxic to the fish. You definately will want to wait til they go down

 

[mark.w.jones]

Wait for the level to go down, it will probably only be another week. Once your nitrites are down then you can much easier control the nitrates and they are much less toxic to the fish. You definately will want to wait til they go down

What have you added to your new tank or filter to help it to cycle?

 

[scoobyandy]

Wait for the level to go down, it will probably only be another week. Once your nitrites are down then you can much easier control the nitrates and they are much less toxic to the fish. You definately will want to wait til they go down

What have you added to your new tank or filter to help it to cycle?

Not much really, not got much experiance, there is 2 oxygenating plants, and air stone. We have added some i think it was stresszime, the fillter has been running for a week now.

 

[iairj84]

Just having the filter running without anything to start the cycle isnt going to help you get ready... I dont however know how you're getting a nitrite number if you havent started the cycle.

 

[scoobyandy]

Just having the filter running without anything to start the cycle isnt going to help you get ready... I dont however know how you're getting a nitrite number if you havent started the cycle.

Like i said im a begginer, I got the reading for a test kit, what do i need to do then to get this going properly.

 

[iairj84]

Ya it's totally fine I was a beginner too not too long ago and I was right there with you. In fact I didn't know enough about it and made a lot of mistakes. It may sound cheesy but finding this forum is the best thing you could've done...

As far as getting your tank fish ready check out the pinned thread on "Fishless Cycling" in the beginner forum, it will give you everything you need to get it going the right way

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Just having the filter running without anything to start the cycle isnt going to help you get ready... I dont however know how you're getting a nitrite number if you havent started the cycle.

Like i said im a begginer, I got the reading for a test kit, what do i need to do then to get this going properly.

You should read this article then, it'll explain how the water quality in your tank works and a lot more;

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=10099


Nitrites are toxic to all aquatic life, if you were doing a fishless cycle (see here for more info http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73365 ) such high nitrite levels would not be a problem, but right now in levels that high they will be beginning to kill your fish/damage their health. So you should do a water change of around 30% whenever you see nitrites or ammonia in the tank (you should also be testing the tank for ammonia and nitrates too) with dechlorinator/water conditioner to try and get them down to levels of 0 .

 

[scoobyandy]

Just having the filter running without anything to start the cycle isnt going to help you get ready... I dont however know how you're getting a nitrite number if you havent started the cycle.

Like i said im a begginer, I got the reading for a test kit, what do i need to do then to get this going properly.

You should read this article then, it'll explain how the water quality in your tank works and a lot more;

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=10099


Nitrites are toxic to all aquatic life, if you were doing a fishless cycle (see here for more info http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=73365 ) such high nitrite levels would not be a problem, but right now in levels that high they will be beginning to kill your fish/damage their health. So you should do a water change of around 30% whenever you see nitrites or ammonia in the tank (you should also be testing the tank for ammonia and nitrates too) with dechlorinator/water conditioner to try and get them down to levels of 0 .

I have done ammonia and nitrates tests and these are fine. its just the nitrite thats is the problem, and just to confirm there are no fish in this tank

 

[black angel]

So what have you used to get the ammonia level? You havent mentioned if you saw a reading for this and how high it got and what the ammonia is at now.

Fishless cycling is usually done with ammonia to get the bacteria to grow in the filter, but you can use products like cycle which contain the bacteria in it.

Cycling takes around 6 weeks to complete so provided you are doing it properly then you have to be patient.

 

[scoobyandy]

So what have you used to get the ammonia level? You havent mentioned if you saw a reading for this and how high it got and what the ammonia is at now.

Fishless cycling is usually done with ammonia to get the bacteria to grow in the filter, but you can use products like cycle which contain the bacteria in it.

Cycling takes around 6 weeks to complete so provided you are doing it properly then you have to be patient.

I have used a test kit to get the levels, for ph, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite. Ammonia is at 0.25ppm. I have read most off the links now and still bit confused as they seem to have diffrent ideas,
Should i just leave it now and let it run for a few weeks or do some water changes, im really confused,