Nitrite spike!

[snowyangel]

Help, i know nothing about nitrite. I've searched the net but i know you guys have more detailed answers. Unfortunately my limited town has no tester kits for me only ammonia kits(i got my water tested at lfs that had no convienent products for me) unless i wanna spend $40 on this big kit that tests for stuff i've never even heard of and dont need, plus i dont have the cash right now. Not even our walmart here has a nitrite kit . I have done a 30% water change since i found out. I've been told to increase aeration, do partial water changes everyday for a week and use aquarium salt. Only problem is i have sensitive fish so i can't do dramatic water changes and i have 2 cories that wouldn't be able to handle the salt right? I just really need specific steps and info. My nitrite level was dangerously high Please help!

 

[Lithril]

First of all you're definatley right not to use salt, that will almost certainly kill off your cories. Personally I would be inclined to a water change closer to 50% just make sure that you get the water to the correct temperature and thoroughly dechlorinate it first, the fish will be fine with this. When my nitrites have raised I usually do 20% water changes daily until they're within normal limits. If you can't get a tester kit at a shop then order one off of the web, otherwise you'll be running back and forth to the lfs every other day.

 

[snowyangel]

I agree with you Lith. How does this happen? I hear over feeding or over stocking too quickly. I think i could be slighty guilty in both. I feel horrible for putting my fish through this. the only pain is my de-chlroinator liquid says how many ml to add per 10 gallon, but when i do water changes i use 1 gallon buckets to remove old water and put in new. I dont know how many EXACT drops to use.I use 3 drops since its been ok. I even wrote an email to the company to ask and they gave my an unhelpful reply. Even after i change the 30% my fish still seemes as panicked though....

 

[Lithril]

Its possible to work out how many ml need to go in a 1 gal from the instructions but the problem normally is that scale isn't that accurate, I have same problem and normally go for adding slightly too much than too little - otherwise you'll lose your bacteria and have to cycle the entire tank from scratch <shudders>. Did you cycle with fish? Adding too many fish or overfeeding can definately cause a nitrite spike. You may even have had an ammonia spike that you didn't notice, but since the bacteria for converting ammonia develops quicker it was cleared before you saw it.

If you're worried and can't test the water you can always do another 30-50% water change to set your mind at rest, I'd leave it an hour or so first though so you don't stress the fish out more than normal.

 

[snowyangel]

Actually when my water was tested(it was testes today), my ammonia was 0. It sucks thats when u go get a water test done you expect to get more then just your ammonia or nitrite tested . I have been looking on ebay for kits and there is some avaible, jus a little more pricier cus its american$ but worth it.

 

[Lithril]

Try putting a post in chit chat and see if anyone knows of any online Canadian shops for getting kit and hardware