Nitrite

[suzie]

I've had an aquarium for about a month and the levels have been fine, until today, my ammonia is OK but my nitrite has shot up to 1.0mg/l. What can I do and how long have my fish got left?!!

 

[gadazobe]

This is showing that your tank is cycling. New tank + fish = ammonia = nitrite = nitrate. You should find that after a few days the nitrite levels will decrease suddenly and nitrate will appear and this is the end of the cycle. To help your fish do a water change every other day. They can survive this whole process, but they will need your help. Water changes will increase the time it takes to complete the cycle, but will help your fish to stay alive.

 

[suzie]

Thanks mate, but surely it's not supposed to go that high!

 

[gadazobe]

It can go very high - sometimes off the scale. It all depends on how many fish you have - the more fish, then the more ammonia, then the more nitrite.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

Suzie, nitrite levels of 1 are ok, but do water changes to help keep it down at this level--even small amounts that are not noticably harming the fish are still causing stress. What you are experiencing is normal. Whatever you do, don't add fish or clean the filter until the aquarium is mature.

 

[J_acon]

Suzei you are from Australia right? Anyway is normal for nitrites to go up like that, they get a higher spike than ammonia. The spikes can go up to 9.0 mg/Litre

Not so good for ur fish, but 1.0 mg/L seems low enough, not to worry.