High Nitrite Levels

[chad07]

Hi Guys,

Could really do with your help.....

Ive left my water for 2 weeks now, and have had my water tested today. It passed on the PH, and Ammonia test but failed on Nitrite!

Could anybody please tell me how to reduce levels of nitrite??? Or if im doing something wrong.

Any help is much appreciated.

Chad

 

[bymauldin]

When you say that you've "left your water for 2 weeks" what do you mean? Have you been fishless cycling for 2 weeks?? What do you mean "failed on nitrite"? What were your readings? Do you have fish in the tank now? If you're doing a fishless cycle then it's natural for your nitrite to spike. Now you just simply have to wait for it to drop to zero. However, you have to continue to add ammonia to the tank to feed the bacteria that you do have. Once ammonia and nitrite levels are at 0 then your tank is considered cycled. Of course you'll need to do a large water change before adding fish to lower the nitrate levels. Do you have your own Master Test Kit? If not you should definitely consider buying your own if you plan on keeping an aquarium.

I guess you'd really need to be more specific before anyone could really give you any good advice.

 

[edgun88]

Your tank is cycling. It is normal for you nitrate levels to spike. It take a few more weeks for them to go down and become nitrate. If you have fish in there dont expect all of them to live. Nitrite is extremely hazardous.

 

[chad07]

I want to cycle the tank using fish, but after having my water tested at the local pet shop he says that the water is to high in nitrite even to out some hardy fish in so that the cycle process can start.

So at the moment there are no fish in my tank. What do you think?

Thanks in advance

 

[SUBARU WRX]

Don't put any fish in. As above WAIT or they will die. Read the fishless cycling sticky.

 

[chad07]

Ok i wont put any more fish in.

How long roughly will it take for Nitrite levels to lower?

Sorry i didnt mean to use the word 'more' in my last post

 

[slowthing]

I've got a similar issue. Been doing a fishless cycle for almost 4 weeks. The ammonia is constantly 0ppm when I test but the nitrites are still at 1.0 ppm - does this sound OK. What results would I expect if the cycle had stalled?

 

[rdd1952]

If you don't have any fish in the tank, have you been addiing ammonia to the tank to cycle it? If not, then the only place the nitrite could have come from is your tap water. Have you tested it? Also, it would help to know the exact reading on ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Some LFS employees will say that the water is "fine" even though there is still ammonia and nitrite present. You will be much better off if you buy a liquid master test kit (about $25) so you can test on your own. Regardless of whether youcycle with or without fish, you need to test the water everyday through the cycling period.