Water Problem

[Ghost9001]

About 2 months ago I started a 10 gal tank, this is my third tank, and the only one I have had any problems with. Im not a novice but Im not really an expert either. I do have a question though, the nitrate and nitrite are extremely high, currently I only have a single tiger barb in the tank, I was afraid to add anything else until the nitrates and nitrites went down. I have been doing 20% water changes 1-2 times a week and have been adding bacteria supplement once a week (could someone tell me if this stuff really helps?). About a week ago I added ammonia reducer still the ammonia was also very high.

I just took a reading:

Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrite - 10ppm
Nitrate - 200ppm

Could someone offer some advice or tell me if Im doing anything wrong. Thanks.

 

[fatheadminnow]

I have a feeling you did not cycle your tank, right?

Also, what kind of test kit are you using? If you are using strip test kits, get rid of them as they are no good and inaccurate! You need to get a liquid base test kit!

Any reading of ammonia or nitrite above .25 ppm will cause permanent damage to the fish and can kill them! Also, Nitrate above 40-50 ppm will start to ham the fish!

Anyways, regardless of what test kit you have, you obviously have some problems that need urgent attention!!!! You need to do a huge water change, I would recommend do a 90% water change, at least, right now! And when you add water back to the tank, you need to temperature match and add water conditioner.

You are in what is called a fish-in cycle. You can read about it here: [URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=224306"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=224306[/URL]

-FHM

 

[JustFrozen]

agree, urgent large water change necessary to get those levels down asap! and on that topic - keep doing frequent water changes, i'm in a fish-in cycle and i'm doing 30%-50% daily, but it can be less often if you find the nitrate levels (and the others for that matter) are low enough to be ok

 

[drobbyb]

I agree with the other two. Large waterchanges are vital in a fish-in cycle situation. Make sure you use a good quality water conditoner. I recommend Prime since it detoxifies ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. It can be safely used at more than double of the recommended dosage.

 

[waterdrop]

I agree with the other two. Large waterchanges are vital in a fish-in cycle situation. Make sure you use a good quality water conditoner. I recommend Prime since it detoxifies ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. It can be safely used at more than double of the recommended dosage.

Yes, agree with the others above -- urgent large water changes with good technique (slight overdosing of a good conditioner and rough temperature matching using your hand) can be done as soon as an hour after the previous change. It often takes several very large ones in quick succession (with the hour in-between) to get nitrite reset down close to zero so that you can then maintain it under 0.25ppm more easily. A good liquid type test must be used to determine things in these processes.

Also agree with Prime as the conditioner of choice, especially in difficult cases like this one but since its a fish-in cycle I would avoid prescribing over 2x dose or it might slow the N-Bac development, so I'd go with Prime dosed at 1.5x on the return water.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Ghost9001]

Alright thanks everyone for the advice. Yes, I am doing fish-in cycling, this is my third tank and my first two began cycling much sooner and the nitrate and nitrite levels were never anywhere near as high as in this tank. I guess Ill starting doing daily water changes, I did about a 60% water change earlier today. Another question I have is if bacteria supplement really helps? Ive heard it doesnt really do anything.

 

[fatheadminnow]

No, products that claim contain live bacteria and will "instant cycle" your tank are a joke. Just stick with what you know, and keep doing what you are doing.

-FHM