Filter/ich Medication Question

Dieses Madchen · Oct 29, 2011

So, I know some read about my recent ich problem (its all gone! All fish are healthy!) But anyways, my community was in contact with my Betta that got sick, so I had to treat my 40g community.

I been doing daily water checks of course, and today my water was
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 2
Nitrates - 60

What just happened here? 2ppm?? Really??? Mind you this tank was established via fishless cycle back in July. Never had a problem with it. It is a 40g community with 5 adult platys, 12 juvies (1.5inch and below) 4 albino cories, and an Albino BN. I know I am not over stocked.

Why would my filter all of a sudden crash? I have not cleaned the filter, nor changed it. I recently rinse the chunks off the sponge with old tank water.

I was using Kordon Rid-Ick Plus. Has anyone used this? Is it known to affect the biological filter?

I am doing a large water change as we speak. Takes a while to drain . I am thinking 80% possible followed shortly by another 50%.

Sound good?

TheRedDarren · Oct 29, 2011

Nope it should be all good, have a read of the 4th paragraph down :good:

I don't know why your nitrite might spike out of the blue like that, but it's not unheard of. Good job on your regular testing to spot it mate. Do as you are doing with the WC's, if you wanted to you could get some filter booster of some kind to help out, or just do the WC's until the spike passes.

Just reread your post... Clean the media in old tap water..?

Dieses Madchen · Oct 29, 2011

TheRedDarren said:
Nope it should be all good, have a read of the 4th paragraph down

I don't know why your nitrite might spike out of the blue like that, but it's not unheard of. Good job on your regular testing to spot it mate. Do as you are doing with the WC's, if you wanted to you could get some filter booster of some kind to help out, or just do the WC's until the spike passes.

Just reread your post... Clean the media in old tap water..?

That was supposed to say TANK water lol. Glad your eyes are good lol mine are obviously not!

I just edited. I don't use tap water on my media lol. I' am currently refilling with dechlorinated water. i will test the nitrites again to see where they are at. May need to do another water change. I hate doing water changes though as my water has ammonia in it. Thank goodness for seachem prime. It's so weird to have a nitrite spike 5 months into an established tank.

Along with the water changes I am going to feed every other day until the filter gets right. Cut down on added ammonia to the tank. Fish seem well though.

Dieses Madchen · Oct 29, 2011

Well after close to 90% water change:

Ammonia: <.50ppm (I have ammonia in my tap water, so I neutralized it with sechem prime while the filter eats it.)
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate <10ppm