T
Tammy Imel
Guest
I set up a new freshwater tank about 6 weeks ago. Everything was going great, water testing was going well, so we added 6 zebra danios to start with. After 2 weeks, water tested good, 0 Nitrates - 0 Nitrites, etc. They were doing great, so two weeks later, I added 6 Sunburst Paties. Water was still testing perfect, then my husband bought me a Rainbow shart for Valentines day. Unfortunately, I had to go out of town for work, so DH was attending to the tank while I was away.
When I returned home, the water was yucky, looked like a dust storm had hit and two of the Platies had died.
I believe my DH overfed the fish while I was away. Also, the Rainbow shark was intimidating everyone in the tank, chasing everyone around the tank! So I took a water sample into the LFS and they said my Nitrates and Nitites were way beyond the level they should be. I also asked them about the rainbow shark and they asked how big he was, my husband thought bigger was better, so he bought the biggest one they had, he was about 2.5 inches long. They told me that I could bring him back and they would exchange him for a smaller, younger shark and that since it was young, it might not be aggressive yet and if I put it in with other young fish its size, it might not ever get aggressive. They also suggested that I do a water change and add some "Cycle" to the tank, so I cleaned the gravel with the vac and did a 30% water change and added enough "Cycle" to start up a new aquarium. The Nitrates have gone down a bit, but the Nitrites are still in the dangerous zone. I have done the gravel vac and 25% water changes every 2-3 days for the last week and a half and the Nitrates are in the "safe" level, but the Nitrites are still in the dangerous zone. (I also exchanged the 2.5 inch shark for a 1 inch shark and he's a cutie, not aggressive, not hiding in the cave like the big one did).
How long should it take for my tank to get back to the safe levels of nitrites? I’m assuming that the tank will have to “cycle” again. The fish that are in there seem to be doing fine, I haven’t lost anyone else, but I’m worried about them with the nitrites being so high. Also, should I continue to add the “Cycle” chemicals or should I just do the water changes every few days with the gravel vac? Every website I read tells me something different, and of course, every person at the LFS tell me something different as well.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for your help!!!
When I returned home, the water was yucky, looked like a dust storm had hit and two of the Platies had died.
I believe my DH overfed the fish while I was away. Also, the Rainbow shark was intimidating everyone in the tank, chasing everyone around the tank! So I took a water sample into the LFS and they said my Nitrates and Nitites were way beyond the level they should be. I also asked them about the rainbow shark and they asked how big he was, my husband thought bigger was better, so he bought the biggest one they had, he was about 2.5 inches long. They told me that I could bring him back and they would exchange him for a smaller, younger shark and that since it was young, it might not be aggressive yet and if I put it in with other young fish its size, it might not ever get aggressive. They also suggested that I do a water change and add some "Cycle" to the tank, so I cleaned the gravel with the vac and did a 30% water change and added enough "Cycle" to start up a new aquarium. The Nitrates have gone down a bit, but the Nitrites are still in the dangerous zone. I have done the gravel vac and 25% water changes every 2-3 days for the last week and a half and the Nitrates are in the "safe" level, but the Nitrites are still in the dangerous zone. (I also exchanged the 2.5 inch shark for a 1 inch shark and he's a cutie, not aggressive, not hiding in the cave like the big one did).How long should it take for my tank to get back to the safe levels of nitrites? I’m assuming that the tank will have to “cycle” again. The fish that are in there seem to be doing fine, I haven’t lost anyone else, but I’m worried about them with the nitrites being so high. Also, should I continue to add the “Cycle” chemicals or should I just do the water changes every few days with the gravel vac? Every website I read tells me something different, and of course, every person at the LFS tell me something different as well.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for your help!!!
