High Nitrite !

[mysteryman]

Hi all

i have had my fish tank for 2 weeks now and made the mistake of putting in 3 fish from day 1!

The fish are all still alive and seem happy but when i get my water tested it comes out dark purple! I am only feeding the fish a little amount and complete a 20% water change each day. My tank size is 70litres.

I have a Aqua flow 100 filter which has been in 10 days now.

I expected the levels of nitrite to start to get lower by now considering that i am changing the water so frequently. Also feeding less but even after changing my water 50% today the levels are still sky high and my testing kit says reduce to zero ASAP!

If i have already done a water change today should i do another to try and get these levels down?

When will the bacteria start growing in my filter? I am very worried about my fish i hope they make it

 

[WILDER]

It can take a tank up to several weeks to cycle a tank it all depends on the fish and tank size.
What fish do you have in the 70 litre.
Daily water changes and increase aeration.
Fish find it hard to breath in bad water quality so you need more aeration.
Also you can add salt to help but it depends on which fish you keep.
You need to go to new to the hobby and read up on the nitrogen cycle.
What test kit are you using.

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/wchem.htm

 

[mysteryman]

It can take a tank up to several weeks to cycle a tank it all depends on the fish and tank size.
What fish do you have in the 70 litre.
Daily water changes and increase aeration.
Fish find it hard to breath in bad water quality so you need more aeration.
Also you can add salt to help but it depends on which fish you keep.
You need to go to new to the hobby and read up on the nitrogen cycle.
What test kit are you using.

[URL="http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/wchem.htm"]http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/wchem.htm[/URL]

Hi thanks for this info.

I have 1 ruby shark, 1 silver shark (i have since been told they should not really mix !!)

and i have a orange one but i have forgotton the name i have attached a picture.

I have put the airflow on full and changed the water this afternoon...do you think i should change again now or tomorrow?

The test kit i am using is interpet nitrite test kit. It was recommended by the fish shop.

I have read a bit on the nitrogen cycle i guess i was hoping the levels would start to come down after 2 weeks but they still seem sky high!

 

[WILDER]

Ruby sharks need 45 gallons tanks.
Silver sharks shouldn't be kept in less than a group of three, as there shoaling fish.
Also silver sharks which are bala sharks need 90 gallons as they grow bigger.

Been given some terrible advice the two sharks shouldn't be in a 70 litre tank.
If you think the tank needs another water change do one.

I would also check its ok to use salt with the sharks as I have forgotten.
To be honest I would ask the lfs to take them back.

Also you need other liquids test kits in ammonia, nitrate, and ph.
http/ezinearticles.com/?Adding-The-Bala-...k&id=472780

 

[WILDER]

http/www.fishlore.com/profiles_rainbow_shark.htm

 

[mysteryman]

Ruby sharks need 45 gallons tanks.
Silver sharks shouldn't be kept in less than a group of three, as there shoaling fish.
Also silver sharks which are bala sharks need 90 gallons as they grow bigger.

Been given some terrible advice the two sharks shouldn't be in a 70 litre tank.
If you think the tank needs another water change do one.

I would also check its ok to use salt with the sharks as I have forgotten.
To be honest I would ask the lfs to take them back.

Also you need other liquids test kits in ammonia, nitrate, and ph.
[URL="http/ezinearticles.com/?Adding-The-Bala-...k&id=472780"]http/ezinearticles.com/?Adding-The-Bala-...k&id=472780[/URL]

Thanks for this info. Looks like i am in a right state...i have 3 fish all that dont mix and are in the wrong size of tank! The shop never told me anything i just picked the ones that looked nice and they said they would be ok!

I am not sure what to do now as in take them back or not i wont be able to do it anyhow until next saturday but am wondering if they will take them back or not i dont even have my receipt?

i made the stupid mistake of thinking keeping tropical fish was easy ! but its alot harder than i thought! I am hoping the water comes good in the next week or two and will do another water change tomorrow!

Will have a think on what to do re the sharks too!

 

[WILDER]

I would phone the lfs and ask them if they would swap the fish for more suitable sized fish for you tank size.
Best advice we can offer is to always research fish before you buy, not only to see how big they grow but to see if
they are compatiable with the fish you keep.

 

[mysteryman]

I would phone the lfs and ask them if they would swap the fish for more suitable sized fish for you tank size.
Best advice we can offer is to always research fish before you buy, not only to see how big they grow but to see if
they are compatiable with the fish you keep.

i totally agree with you i should i researched all this!

Cant believe they just sold me the tank and then a few days later the fish!

I am happy to report that the 3 fish are still alive...although the nitrite levels are still high i am changing 10% of the water each day and feeding the fish less.

A friend has agreed to take the black ruby shark who is causing the problems and then i will look to rehome the silver shark later. Its been 3 weeks now i really hope my water starts to improve and my filter kicks in! I cant believe the levels are still so high!

I can see the sponge in the filter and its starting to look a bit less new if that makes sense! The friendly bacteria must start to build up soon!?

 

[WILDER]

I would up the water changes to 30%.
Your friend does he have a mature filter sponge he could give you for your filter.

 

[dcarmor927]

i agree about uping the % change...the only way to get rid of nitrates at this point is to do water changes...i am still doing a fish in cycle (which i regret doing btw) and i had to change 50% of my water 2 times a day at points due to high ammonia and nitrites...it can take along time to finally see the nitrites start to slow down(its taken me almost a month, [just for nitrites] and i still havent cleared the woods)...good luck with the process...

 

[petertr]

Cant believe they just sold me the tank and then a few days later the fish!

Happens all the time.

Lots of LFSs seem to only care about making a sale. Those that actual care are few and far between.