nitrite levels

[holidayinn]

i had my water tested and the nitrite levels are high ammonias fine how can i bring these levels down?

Having to do a fish cycle with a large oscar & pleco, been 5 days now used old filter ang gravel treated the water with aquaplus, cycle and waste control (UK)
The fish seem fine and eating well, was told to cut down there food to let the nitrite level drop

Also told to do a 30% water change in a couple of days will this do the trick? Or is there anything else i can do?

 

[impur]

The water change will help bring the levels down. As a result, you will lengthen your cycle. I would let it be if the fish seem fine. At the first sign of stress, do the water change.

Or go here for the answer

 

[holidayinn]

Stupid question - how do i notice stress?

is a stress reducing water conditioner any good?

 

[impur]

You can notice stress by the fish acting lethargic, not eating, sitting on the bottom, clamped fins. Anything out of the norm.

Stresscoat doesn't really relieve stress. It adds conditioning to the water and helps promote the fishes natural slime coat production.

 

[denas]

I had high Nitrite due to one of my filters being contaminated when I bought it. The filter actually turned a dark purple and I changed it. I did the water change and tested the water again, this didn't get the nitrites down enough for fish safty. I had to remove all the gravel and all the ornaments in the tank and boil them in a pot of water on the stove. Then I rinsed them all off and put them back into the tank with a 50% water change, and I got the nitrate down low enough that the fish were out of danger. It was very scary. I hope that your nitrite level isn't as high as mine was, but if it is way up there, this is what I recommend.

 

[ChiclidBoy]

GET A NEW FILTER MEDIA CLEAN THE GRAVEL WITH A CYPPINE AND CHANGE A THIRD OF THE WATER HOPE I CAN HELP I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM

 

[Alien Anna]

The water change will help bring the levels down. As a result, you will lengthen your cycle. I would let it be if the fish seem fine. At the first sign of stress, do the water change.

Or go here for the answer

Actually, there is no reason why a water change would significantly lengthen your cycle, since the vast majority of the bacteria don't live in the water anyway. They aren't free swimming - they attach themselves to gravel, filters, rocks and plants.