Extremely High Nitrate and Nitrite Levels

[biggrigg22]

I have a six gallon tank which contains 3 neons and 3 black neons. I had 2 more neons, but they died so I went and bought a water testing kit and when I tested it the nitrate and nitrite were both extremely high and the nitrite is way off the charts(it is darker than the highest example).
I have tried numorous partial water changes of about 20% at least once a week, but nothing seemed to be happening.
I went to Petsmart and told them what the results of the tests were and they gave me this stuff called AmQuel+ that is supposed to remove nitrate, nitrite and ammonia from the tank. I added the proper dose and waited 24 hours and tested the water again, but the results were the same: very high levels of nitrate and nitrite. The only difference is that now the water is cloudy.
Do I have to keep adding more until the nitrate/nitrite levels come down or is there something else I should be doing?! Please help!

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I wouldn't add chemicals claiming to get rid of things like that.

Is your tank cycled? I'd add aquarium salt to reduce the noxisity of the nitrIte and keep on with water changes.

Have you tested your tap water? NitrAte should be coming down with water changes, I'd test the tap water.

 

[Sky042]

Exact numbers of your levels would be helpful. but if your levels are very high you should be doing 20% every day rather then once a week. I also agree with cheese specialist about not adding the cehmicals to reduce the nitrite.

 

[my_fallen_angel]

20% water changes everyday untill it goes down.
Once a week wont help

 

[biggrigg22]

Thanks for the advice all. I had a feeling the guy at the store just wanted me to spend a little money.

I'm gonna start doing a partial exchange of 20% (the same amount I usually do) everyday now and see if that helps.

The results from the tap water:
Nitrate - 10
Nitrite - .5
They don't seem very high so I don't think thats the problem, but then again I don't know what the problem is so I shouldn't really say.

Thanks again for the advice. Let's see if I can get this tank turned around.

 

[Angel Lady]

I would do a 30 percent water change until I got them down..20 percent is not enough Also neons are scaless and salt will kill them... You cannot use salt on scaless fish it will kill them that is the reason why I said to do a 30 percent water change instead of the 20...I am sure anyone else will agree with me.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I would do a 30 percent water change until I got them down..20 percent is not enough Also neons are scaless and salt will kill them... You cannot use salt on scaless fish it will kill them that is the reason why I said to do a 30 percent water change instead of the 20...I am sure anyone else will agree with me.

Neons are scaleless? Where did you get that from? I never knew that, I though it was some loaches and catfish.

What others are?

 

[drobbyb]

I would do a 30 percent water change until I got them down..20 percent is not enough Also neons are scaless and salt will kill them... You cannot use salt on scaless fish it will kill them that is the reason why I said to do a 30 percent water change instead of the 20...I am sure anyone else will agree with me.

Neons are scaleless? Where did you get that from? I never knew that, I though it was some loaches and catfish.

What others are?

Tetras are not scaleless, but they do suffer the same weakness as scaleless fish when it comes to Methelyne blue (ich treatment)

To the OP: A 6 gallon tank needs no more than 6 inches of fish. Neons get 1.5" each. 4 neons will max out that tank. I know the inches per gallon rule is not accurate, but for beginners it is a good rule of thumb.

 

[rdd1952]

Old thread from "Similar Topics". Closed.