Still Having Nitrite Problems

[emj0341]

Hey looking for any ideas on why i cant get my nitrites down (NOT NITRaTES) i posted on here about a week and a half ago, same prob. I tried what was suggested but i cant seem to KEEP my levels down, I had them down to about 3.0 ppm a few days ago but now are nearing 10 ppm again. I was advised to change 20% water every day for a week and i did that, but didnt help so on last thursday did a 50% change. This dropped my nitrites to 3 ppm but levels started growing within 12 hrs. I only have 4 fish and a snail in a 10gal tank now, (2 dwarf gouramis and 2 cory cats) I use tetra's aqua safe in the water, and also tetra's easy balance, both according to directions. My fish look healthy and are not showing any signs of stress, but i am worried because ive heard that nitrites are poisonous to my fish. any ideas about this, im not sure what to do...

 

[Alex_]

To reduce Nitrite you will need to do a 25% water change

then add some aqquriam salt so the nitrite ion exchanges resin

then if your nitrite is still high ammonia might be presnet

and how are you going about doing your water changes?

and what kind of filter are you running?

also im suprised that your fish arent dead because 10ppm

is the highest level any master tester goes to.

-Alex

 

[emj0341]

when i do my 25% changes I use a siphon/vacuum hose and clean the gravel and pull out 2.5 gallons then i run tap water and add aqua safe to it. Refill my tank with same temp water and then im done

I use the filter that came with the tank ( was a set ) its designed for a 10 gallon tank and thats what i have.

The only additives i have used in my tank is aqua safe for water changes and EasyBalance as directed

I thought at first i was overfeeding but since i went to 1 smaller meal per day, the water seems to have gotten worse.

I am really frustrated with this especially as there are no experienced LFS employees around (darn college kids)

let me know what other info you need,

Thanks......

 

[newfishaddict]

when i do my 25% changes I use a siphon/vacuum hose and clean the gravel and pull out 2.5 gallons then i run tap water and add aqua safe to it. Refill my tank with same temp water and then im done

I use the filter that came with the tank ( was a set ) its designed for a 10 gallon tank and thats what i have.

The only additives i have used in my tank is aqua safe for water changes and EasyBalance as directed

I thought at first i was overfeeding but since i went to 1 smaller meal per day, the water seems to have gotten worse.

I am really frustrated with this especially as there are no experienced LFS employees around (darn college kids)

let me know what other info you need,

Thanks......

OK, my understanding is that this is a new 10g tank.

OK, if you can take your corries back to the store do it . Ask for credit. It will save all 4 of their lives,,,,, 2 dwarf gouramies and 2 cory cats is allot of fish to cycle a 10g. I would also never cycle a tank with gouramies or corries(I am not blaming you, the store should know this). I would use "fishless" cycling now, but I didnt for my first tank...Also, feed what I have heard described as “starvation rations” if cycling with fish.

When you vacume the gravel you disrupt bacterial populations. I do not vacuum more than 1/3 of my gravel EVER at one time....and I don’t vacume any substrate during the first 30-35 days of a new tank...(This all depends on how fine the substrate is, if you can clean the substrate without disrupting the substrate, I would start that in a new tank at 14 days)

Dont ever trust the fish store employees, they are not evil, just inexperienced and under paid. My local fish store expert told me these things:
1) use tetracycle for the fungus on my plants!
2) cycle my 29g with 12 tetras!
3) use 10,000k bulbs to avoid algae!
4) a Ph change of 2 is no big deal!
5) etc....

Reasearch everything you buy on your own.
newfish
out

 

[The-Wolf]

are there any lfs near you that sell Sera products?
if so look for Sera Nitrivec, it will sort this problem out for you.
I have used it and it works.

note it is not a chemical, it is a suspended bacteria.