Nitrite out of control

[Wannaknowaboutsand]

I think some how I killed the bacteria that took care of the nitrite. I did another 50% water change and shortly after it went from .5 to 5 so it has to be cycling again. I think Im stressing the fish more than anything with all the water changes. One yellow lab lost most of his color. I will do some small daily water changes to help out a little and keep salt in the tank to help just a bit more. Hopefully the nitrite will come down on its own sooner than later.

 

[LiQuOrIcE]

Another thing i think i benifitted from was when adding new water, leave it in the bucket for 30 mins or so with the dechlorinator working its magic.

I figured chlorine is used in swimming pools to kill bacteria so it probably does that in the tank to, so the bigger the water change with chlorinated water, the more bacteria you kill.

Im no expert, just what ive found help me a lot.

 

[Ron9]

This is in no way advice - I am far too new at this to give advice. This is just my recent (like now) experience with nitrite. My “problem” is different enough that no answers are offered - it is just my NitriteSpeak.

My 55 gallon that is 7 weeks old is in prefect shape. I had nothing to do with the fact that it cycled by the book - all I did was take the advice of the guy at the lfs. His advice was - in a nut shell - put in a few fish (depends on size of tank) and just wait. He would not allow me to buy a pleco (no algae yet) he would not allow me to buy more fish. He gave me simple advice that worked perfect.

My 10 gallon (that has two lyre tail mollies) had been treated for ich then treated for fungus during what would have been the cycle period. Then I got the test kits and found the nitrite off the chart. I pretty much paniced. For three days I did two 50% changes each day. The big water changes would drop the level then a few hours later it was back up. THEN ***I*** calmed down. When I calmed down so did the nitrite level. I was trying to compare everything to the 55 gallon test results. I was trying to compare the test results of a tank that was not cycled with a tank that was cycled.

I backed down on the changes to one 25% change a day for three days. I skipped yesterday (no water changes). The fact is I am going to have to live with .25 levels (which really are not all that high) until that tank cycles. I had been trying to get the level to 0ppm which I now think was foolish. I was silly to expect 0ppm. So I calmed down so did the nitrite level. This tank has been going long enough for a cycle (about 6 weeks) but about two of those weeks were under meds (no filter).

As far as water changes go - if you ask me (no one should ask me) the fish like them regardless of test levels - so to me water changes are not bothering my fish. I make them fast. I get the water ready the night before with the chemicals/salt and wam the change is fast and all is back to “normal” in a few minutes (on these small tanks - I am also bringing a 5 gallon thru the cycle). Right now I am trying to keep the house at 78 degrees - the tanks at 78 degrees and the water to self level to room temp so when I do the changes I remove 78 degree water and replace it with 78 degree water.

Until something changes my (newbie) mind - my advice is (to myself only) do what it takes with water changes to keep the levels lowish and (to myself only) don’t try for perfection (zero levels) during cycling - be willing to accept low levels as “normal” thru that time frame. To me right now .25 is nothing to panic over. I just keep saying that to myself lol.

BTW tstenback kind of clued me in (thank you) about not expecting 0ppm readings right now when he/she (sorry don’t know) mentioned try to keep them under 1ppm - .25 is well under 1ppm.

 

[Wannaknowaboutsand]

I think its my fault it did spike in the first place. I should have lived with the .25 but I had to play with things. Now look what its got me. Anyway Ill wait it out since it seems the water chagnes seem more stressful on the fish than the nitrite.