Betta Water With A .5 Nitrite Reading!?

[FishHelper101]

I just tested Merp's water after doing a 25% water change. He is my mail veil tail betta that's currently being treated for fin rot that is slowly progressing. Anyway he lives in a 2.5 Aqueon tank from Petco. The only things that concerned me was the nitrite readings and the fact that his water is at about a 300 hardness! So my questions are:
 
1.Should his high water hardness concern me? If so, how do I soften it?
and 
2. How do I bring down his sudden nitrite readings? Thanks! Merp's been through his up's and down's so I just want to keep the little guy healthy.

 

[cpwebsite]

The best way to bring it down is through water changes. Is your tank cycled, how long has he been there? You shouldn't get nitrite in a cycled tank unless it is in your water supply, have you tested your water supply? Also do you have a heater on your tank? Bettas should be in tanks of 5 gallons w/ a heater so you may want to consider moving him from the 2.5g.
 
I'm not an expert on water hardness, and don't worry about mine, so I won't help you there.

 

[FishHelper101]

Actually no they don't. 2.5 is the bare minimum so please don't advise otherwise. But thanks, it's been cycled for awhile and i'm not too sure how old his tank is. It's got to me more 3 months though.

 

[cpwebsite]

Actually no they don't. 2.5 is the bare minimum so please don't advise otherwise. But thanks, it's been cycled for awhile and i'm not too sure how old his tank is. It's got to me more 3 months though.

 
If it's cycled then the only way I can see nitrite coming in is through your water source unless you didn't do a water change for a while and more ammonia than your bacteria could handle got picked up, and your tank is re-cycling creating more bacteria, or something happened that killed a lot of your bacteria.
 
And, from what I've heard and my experience 5 is the bare minimum, and because I do believe 5 is the bare minimum, I find it fair that I advise that. Better to advise to big than too small anyhow.

 

[ThatAquaristChick1234]

Actually no they don't. 2.5 is the bare minimum so please don't advise otherwise. But thanks, it's been cycled for awhile and i'm not too sure how old his tank is. It's got to me more 3 months though.

 
If it's cycled then the only way I can see nitrite coming in is through your water source unless you didn't do a water change for a while and more ammonia than your bacteria could handle got picked up, and your tank is re-cycling creating more bacteria, or something happened that killed a lot of your bacteria.
 
And, from what I've heard and my experience 5 is the bare minimum, and because I do believe 5 is the bare minimum, I find it fair that I advise that. Better to advise to big than too small anyhow.

Well, ive read lots and had personal experience and the minimum is 2.5... ive heard that everywhere on other forums, its only hear ive heard this sill 5 gallon thing.

 

[FishHelper101]

Well it's not too small… It's the minimum so please just stop telling me to move my betta. Thanks for your advise though.

 

[Wildbetta]

2.5 is the bare minimum I would keep a betta in although I prefer to have mine in 5+.  Now with that being said--anything less than 5 gallons is more difficult to maintain a stable cycle and heat cosistantly which is why I prefer to use 5 gallons or better.  The nitrIte reading could easily be from your water supply so I would start there.  If that is not it, then there is the possibility of what the previous poster suggested--that there was a flux of ammonia and the tank was fixing the cycle to compensate for it. 
 
Personally if you are keeping the 2.5 heated and clean -- then there is nothing really wrong with your setup. Just understand that most are going to advise you on 5 gallons or more.  They mean no disrespect -- just care for the fish in your care and want to help. 

 

[FishHelper101]

Yea I understand where they are coming from but that's just my own personal opinion. Thank you Wildbetta, it is being heated and kept clean. However, yes the tank did not have a water change for about a period of 3-4 days. I was out of town before the weekend and during and I don't trust my mom changing his water. LOL

 

[attibones]

I would try another water change and possibly doing a quick gravel vacuum. This usually helps my tanks. How frequently do you change your water? For a tank that size, I would recommend changing water at least twice a week.

 

[FishHelper101]

I do a 25% water change every other day and a 100% on friday. He's a little pig with his pellets and sometimes they fall the tank floor so that's m=why I do water changes so often.