Extremely High Nitrite Reading

[whambamtymam]

hey guys ive been getting really high nitrite readings about 4mg/l this week. Ive been adding filter start to try help the problem including adding an extra powerhead for more DO. Tank is about 45g. however still no results

Could the subtrate nutrients i have contributed to this problem?

 

[K.J.]

Add the stocking and full test readings. Is the tank cycled? How long has it been set up? Have you added any new ornaments? How are the fish?

 

[Yazan]

Is your filter running properly.?

 

[whambamtymam]

Stocking- 1 4inch arowana.

Ammonia- 0mg/l
nitrite-4mg/l
nitrate-? (have not gotten a test kit for this yet)
pH is about 6.8
Oh yea i've also added blackwater extract could it be due to this?

Tank have been set up for about 3 weeks now.
Surprisingly my fish seems stable and is feeding well. only abnormal behavior is going to the surface to skim the surface of the water.

yes the internal filter im using is in working order

 

[fishkers]

It sounds to me like your tank is just trying to cycle. 3 weeks of being set up doesn't mean that it is cycled. The 0 mg/l Ammonia is great! Your nitrite levels are high due to the cycling, i'm betting your Nitrate levels are high too. Just in case you didn't know the cycle process; ammonia turns into nitrite, and nitrite turns into nitrate. So basically i think your tank is just cycling. I don't know much about the Blackwater Extract but I wouldn't think that would have anything to do with your nitrite levels. Let us know when you test Nitrate....

 

[rdd1952]

Most chemicals don't have an effect on nitrite unless they are made to remove them (I would stay away from those as they will prevent the tank from cycling properly). Your tank is cycling and as stated, no ammonia is good. I would do water changes to keep the nitrite level down. It s toxic but not to the extent ammonia is. Try to keep it under 2 ppm (preferable 1) until it finally drops to 0.

 

[whambamtymam]

thanks for the advice. appreciate it.

Would 10% wc a day suffice till the tank is cycled? seeing the really pink vial makes me wonder if my aro could survive.

 

[K.J.]

Yes, you are just finishing the cycling process. Be warned that most arowanas will quickly outgrow a 45G tank.

 

[Yazan]

I read that a tank needs a month to cycle.

 

[whambamtymam]

yeap...currently using this as a grow out tank.

Just changed the water today. and after i was done, i noticed little white worms in the tank!how the hell did they get in there...are they posing a threat to my fish?

 

[drobbyb]

yeap...currently using this as a grow out tank.

Just changed the water today. and after i was done, i noticed little white worms in the tank!how the hell did they get in there...are they posing a threat to my fish?

The worms are no threat. In fact most people have them in their tank but never notice. Dirty water makes them multiply thus you see them. Sounds to me that your tank is almost done cycling. If your ammonia is 0 and nitrites elevated you are in the middle of the cycle. Keep the small waterchanges going and wait for nitrite to hit 0. After that do a waterchange every week.

 

[rdd1952]

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