Help! My Nitrites Are Through The Roof!

[Sarah5098]

My nitrItes in my snail tank have gone to the final colour, and after two water changes nothing has happened! Whats going on? Could it be the cuttlefish i use to add calcium? Ive never had this problem before and i am so confused!
Ammonia 0, pH7.4
Any advise?
Sarah

 

[blue acara]

Make sure the test is accurate buy testing on tap water or another tank. If it is correct do a large water change of 50% or more and check the snail tank for dead/decomposing snails. I doubt cuttlefish will be responsible, check your filter.

 

[Sarah5098]

Make sure the test is accurate buy testing on tap water or another tank. If it is correct do a large water change of 50% or more and check the snail tank for dead/decomposing snails. I doubt cuttlefish will be responsible, check your filter.

Everythings fine The test is fine. No dead snails at all, all are slithering around. Ive rinsed the filter but the clogging indicator wasnt down. Im just really confused by it. Doing 3rd water change and will see the effect.

 

[Sarah5098]

Please help! 6th water change and no change! still purple. Anyone at all any ideas? I have no idea whats going on!

 

[Bignose]

Please help! 6th water change and no change! still purple. Anyone at all any ideas? I have no idea whats going on!

6 water changes with tap water that tests at zero? Something is not right. It may sound basic, but are you sure you are doing the test right? Correct number of drops, shaking the right amount of time, and waiting the right amount of time?

Because if you diluted it 6 times, the value should have changed significantly.

I.e. Measure out 1 cup of tank water. Test it and get your value. Now, measure out 1 cup of tap water and mix the two cups together in a larger vessel. Stir together a good minute or more to mix very, very well. You should get a reading half of the original reading. Mix in 2 more cups of tap water, and mix that well, and you should get a value half of the second reading. If your tests cannot reflect that, then you are doing the test wrong or the test isn't working right.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Ive rinsed the filter

Was that in tap water? How often do you do this? When you say filter, do you mean your foam inserts? Rinsing foam inserts will kill off your bacteria and negatively impact your biological filtration.

Are you sure your test kit isn't expired or faulty?

 

[Sarah5098]

Ive rinsed the filter

Was that in tap water? How often do you do this? When you say filter, do you mean your foam inserts? Rinsing foam inserts will kill off your bacteria and negatively impact your biological filtration.

Are you sure your test kit isn't expired or faulty?

The test kit must be fine cos my tap water tests negative.

I rinse my filter in tank water, when the clogging indicator goes down, but never knew about the inserts I just take them out and pour tank water over them. Oh dear

I took all of my live plants out last night and this has made some difference.

I have no idea what happened unless the nitrite levels were like 100 or something stupid and halving wasnt making a difference.