Nitrite

[richgonfishn]

I started off all wrong.... I bought a tank from a friend and cleaned the tank. I replaced the gravel. I filled it up with tap water. I added too many fish. You name it, I did it wrong. The good thing is I haven't lost a single fish. The tank is 30 gallons. I was doing my normal water tests today and the Nitrite went from 0 to 3.5/4.0. I quickly did a 6 gallon water change. I treated the 6 gallons with AquaSafe. Yesterday I did a 6 gallon water swap and used the hose that sucks the stuff up through the gravel. Can't remember the name of it. Anyway, what would cause the Nitrite to go from 0 to 4.0? Isn't the 4.0 dangerous? Did I do the right thing is swapping out 6 gallons. The tank has been going for about 9 days. If it matters the Nitrate was 20-25. I use a Penguin 330 with a underground filter. I have two air tubes. Sorry I don't know the correct names for these items, but I'm completely new to this. As if you couldn't already tell!!

Thanks in advance....

 

[richgonfishn]

I think I answered my own questions. Doing the water swap was the correct thing to do. Looking through the search, it appears I may have been over feeding my fish. I mentioned it once before... it is cool to watch the fish eat. I recently bought some Algae Thins and enjoyed watching my catfish come out and eat/play with the thins. Actually all the fish enjoy them. I had been putting 3-4 in for the past few nights. They are small, but I'm sure I'm still using too many. I guess I'll just bite the bullet and feed the fish every other day. Maybe I'll feed them daily, but a much smaller pinch.

Am I on the right track? I just did a Ammonia test and the reading was .50.

I did buy "TWO" libe plants. So far all the fish look happy & healthy.

 

[isu_guy]

I'm sure if you do some research on cycling/nitrogen cycle you'll find plenty of info.

Basic jist - fish and fish food produce ammonia (faster than the ammonia eating bacteria can multiply in a new tank) - after a while the ammonia eating bateria multiply enough to keep up with the fish/food.

ammonia eating bacteria produce nitrite (faster than the nitrite eating bacteria can multiply in a new tank) - after a while the nitrite eating bacteria multiply enough to keep up with the ammonia eating bacteria.

the nitrite eating bacteria produce nitrate- nitrate can be consumed by plants, but chances are you'll just have to do water changes to lower this amount.

So, the overview is this, new tank+ fish = ammonia spike. As the ammonia spike starts the decrease there will be a nitrite spike. after the nitrite decreases its cycled and safe to add more fish (slowly)

As for specifics about how much you should change and when.... I'm not the one to tell you anything cause I'm having some problems with my own tank right now.

good luck to you.

 

[richgonfishn]

It's been 4-5 hours and I just took the water sample again. Here are the readings...

Nitrate- 40

Nitrite- 4.0

Hardness- 150

Alkalinity- 150

pH- 8.0

Ammonia .50

As I mentioned above... I did the 20% water change. Does it take longer to lower the Nitrite. I'm a little concerned.

 

[astroboy]

Water changes, water changes, water changes.

Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt (per gallon) to help your fish cope with the high nitrites.

Once your readings are normal, regular water changes will take the salt out.

 

[clutterydrawer]

no salt with catfish!

 

[Def]

If you're desperate, get some Cycle and add it. It takes nitrite down quite quickly.

 

[parker313]

Yup, water changes aren't going to help your tank finish the cycle any faster, but it will help make your water more liveable for your fish. With a nitrAte of 40, you might start losing some fish

 

[richgonfishn]

I'm getting worried!! It's over 24 hours later and my reading are as follows-

Nitrate- at least 60

Nitrite- at least 10... it's darker than the 10

Hardness- 150

Alkalinity- 150

pH- 7.8

Ammonia- 0 "SAFE"

I noticed my live plant is basically falling apart. I'm not sure what it's called, but the leaves are green on top and purple underneath. The leaves and stems are breaking off and it's not being caused be the fish.

I'm getting ready to do another 6 gallon water change. Any other suggestions? I don't have any Cycle.

I don't want to lose any fish!!

Please reply ASAP!!

 

[Boggle]

In a 30G tank, a 6G PWC is not enough.

I've gone thru this before, due to an over-enthusiastic friend 'surprising' us with new fish, lol.

You need to:

- do a 15G water change immediately
- do a 20% PWC every day, twice a day if u have to, and keep up with testing
- buy a product like Amtrite Down, or similar, which is a beneficial bacteria starter
and DOUBLE or TRIPLE the dosage recommended, as overdosing will not harm your fish but will get the good bacteria started (keep the bottle in the fridge after opening)
- make sure you have an airstone for plenty of surface water agitation

The water will usually smell a little bit like a sewer with nitrites so high, so you can usually smell the problem even before you test.

And when you have the time, read this http/www.bestfish.com/ug.html, as I see you have an undergravel filter.

Good luck!

 

[richgonfishn]

I did roughly a 10 gallon water change before you replied. I waited an hour and the reading are still sky high. It didn't seem to make any difference.

Nitrate- 60 (at best)

Nitrite- 10.0 or higher.... little darker than 10.0

The others are all fine.

Ammonia is also safe.

The worst thing is I'm going out of town tomorrow and won't be back till late Sunday. I sure hope I come home to some LIVE fish.

Should I take the LIVE plant out? Why is it falling apart? The plant was healthy when I bought it. It's been in the tank 2-3 days and it looks horrible.

I wish I had read all the negative stuff on the underground filter. My LFS sold me on it. I don't have any power heads. I have the plastic frame with 2 airtubes. I simply have a dual pump connected to the two airtubes. I have lots and lots of bubbles going up both.

I took the two carbon filters out of the Penguin 330. Someone suggested that.

I don't know what else do do? These SPIKES basically happened in the last 24 hours.

PLEASE HELP!!!!!

 

[Boggle]

Maybe the test kit is faulty, the reading should have come down. Can you take a water sample to your lfs & they can test it for you just to make sure, & also test your tap water for nitrates, some ppl have had huge readings with their source water.

Does the water smell foul? Mine smelled bad with a reading of 4.0.

How many fish do you have in there?

If the plant is falling apart, throw it, decaying plants are not good for the water quality. Try getting something hardy like annubias or wisteria (and make sure there is sufficient light).

I think the bio-wheel would be enough for a 30G, maybe you can take the UGF back (the filter should cycle the entire contents of your tank 3x every hour)

Carbon isn't necessary for the most part, so I've been told, it removes chamicals from the water, but also removes meds, & is a pain in the butt to change all the time.

Don't know what you can do considering you're going away, maybe ask your lfs to look after the fish while you're gone & untill the problem is sorted out, most will 'fish-sit' for a small fee. Better than a tank full of floaters when you get back.

 

[richgonfishn]

Thanks Boggle...

I would think the kit is fine. It's new and it appeared fine for the first 10 tests.

I just took the reading again-

Nitrate- 40 (safe zone)

Nitrite- 10.0 + (it's actually a little darker than the 10.0)

Others are still fine.

The fish all still seem as happy as can be. No dead fish is always a good thing.

I have roughly 13 fish. Called the LFS and they don't offer any fish sitting services.

I wouldn't say the water stinks, but it's kind of muggy smelling.

I guess all I can do is do a 15 gallon water swap before leaving town and keep my fingers crossed.

I'll do a quick tap water reading. I wonder if I should do it before or after the AquaSafe Chlorine remover treatment. I'll do it without first. Be right back....

Nitrate- 10 (very good)

Nitrite- 0 (can you believe it?

Others are all safe as well. I'm confused. What is in my tank that is causing the problem. Could the AquaSafe be effecting the readings?

I'm confused!!!