0.5 Nitrite In My Tank What To Do Next ?

[jetnett]

Hi just done my first water test on my tank. Ammonia level 0.0 pH is between 7.0 - 7.5 but my Nitrite is showing very light pink so coming up as 0.5 what do I do to lower it down ? Thank you jeanette

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Does this tank have fish?
Is it still cycling?
What test kit are you using?

Water changes or having a large enough colony of nitrite eating bacteria will get the nitrite down.

 

[attibones]

You'll want to do a 100% water change (as close to it as possible and as quickly as possible). Your water source should have no nitrite, which means you'll have no nitrite in the fresh tank water, but bear in mind that it will come back if your tank is stocked with fish. Well, first it will show as ammonia and then nitrite before it goes to nitrate. If you have not cycled your tank, I suggest you click the link in Blondie's signature.

 

[214jay]

Hi Jetnett.
 
I have just read your other post about your new second hand tank & fish --->   http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/424560-is-my-tank-overstocked/#entry3592852
 
They main questions are....Did the tank come with a filter?  If so, was it transported in tank water?
 
You have a lot of stocking in your tank so it is likely the biological filter is not able to keep up, it could just be a mini cycle. Your best bet is replace 60-75% of the water to get the level of nitrite below 0.25ppm.  Hopefully the bio filter can keep up.  Certainly hold back on adding more fish and try and get rid of the clown loach too before it gets stunted.
 
Make sure your treating any new water with a good dechlorinator that removes chlorine and chloramine!!  If not you could be killing your bacteria.

 

[jetnett]

Thank you yes jay the tank came with a filter. I haven't cleaned the filter tho
As I did a 100% water change and cleaned the undergravel filter tray and did give the tank a good scrub I'ave been scared to clean out the filter too ? So new to this And perhaps I added new fish to soon. I will do a water change asap but maybe I should clean the filter first ? Sorry if I seem stupid just never had a large tank before
The tank is running with fish the filter is a fluval 30 the kit is one I bought today from maidenhead aquatics called master test kit

 

[Meeresstille]

Unless there is a lot of debris in the filter I would just leave it alone. Cleaning it may remove more of the beneficial bacteria that may have survived in there!

 

[jetnett]

Ok that's why I left it will just do a water change then thank you the filter is uv 3

 

[214jay]

 
I will do a water change asap but maybe I should clean the filter first ? Sorry if I seem stupid just never had a large tank before

Don't put yourself down.  Just do a water change and leave the filter then keep a daily record of the water parameters.  If nitrite rises above 0-0.25ppm then do a water change.  Sounds like your filter just needs to catch up.
 
A good dechlorinator like 'seahem prime' should counteract the effects of nitrite so may be worth looking into.

 

[jetnett]

did a small water change and the levels has gone down to 0.25 so better not great still will clean the filter

in a few days and hopefully that will help it to bring it down to 0