High nitrite

[Stevetheadi]

Hi

The water was perfectly fine in my established 64L tank until I added more substrate.

Covering the old substrate has, I think, caused the nitrite (as measured by an API test kit) to spike. Today it is 4.0.

Ammonia is zero, PH is 8.5, nitrates are high (that's how it comes out of the tap) and the water is very hard.

It has been like this for about ten days despite daily 40% water changes and adding extra Seachem Prime. I have also been using AquaCare Bioboost which is used to accelerate cycling in a new tank.

I have stopped feeding the fish (six Rasboras and a couple of Corys). The fish seem fine, surprisingly.

Is there anything else I can do?

 

[Naughts]

Yes, adding aquarium salt will protect the fish. I would use this rather than extra seachem prime. IIRC it does so by inhibiting the nitrites absorption into the bloodstream. A small amount is sufficient.

Any water changes should include salt (so if you originally used a tablespoon for the whole tank, then changed half the water, use half a tbsp in the replacement water). Keep checking nitrite and ammonia levels daily until you’re sure things have resolved, then stop replacing salt.

 

[Essjay]

The second part of this link goes into detail about using salt for nitrite

Rescuing A Fish In Cycle Gone Wild - Part Il

Part II SO YOU STILL WANT TO KEEP CYCLING WITH FISH? If you are determined to ignore the above advice in Part I and still think you want to proceed with a fish in cycle, then you need to be aware of the information presented below. SOME IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT AMMONIA Ammonia in water exists...

www.fishforums.net

 

[Stevetheadi]

Yes, adding aquarium salt will protect the fish. I would use this rather than extra seachem prime. IIRC it does so by inhibiting the nitrites absorption into the bloodstream. A small amount is sufficient.

Any water changes should include salt (so if you originally used a tablespoon for the whole tank, then changed half the water, use half a tbsp in the replacement water). Keep checking nitrite and ammonia levels daily until you’re sure things have resolved, then stop replacing salt.

Thank you.

I'll try that.

 

[Stevetheadi]

The second part of this link goes into detail about using salt for nitrite

Rescuing A Fish In Cycle Gone Wild - Part Il

Part II SO YOU STILL WANT TO KEEP CYCLING WITH FISH? If you are determined to ignore the above advice in Part I and still think you want to proceed with a fish in cycle, then you need to be aware of the information presented below. SOME IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT AMMONIA Ammonia in water exists...

www.fishforums.net

May I just check that I've correctly calculated the amount of salt to use?

The tank has 55 litres of water in it. The N02 reading is 4.0. 55*4 = 2200mg. Multiply that by 1.5 = 3300mg or 3.3g.

The instructions that came with the aquarium salt say 1 rounded tablespoon for every 20 litres. So about 3 tablespoons of salt.

Which is a lot more than 3.3g.

 

[Essjay]

The aquarium salt instructions are not for mitigating the effect of nitrite; salt can also be used as a disease treatment but that's not what you need it for. Salt is not good for fresh water fish but they can tolerate it for short periods during treatment for illness and for helping with nitrite in the water.

That calculation is correct for use with nitrite; use 3.3 g.

 

[Stevetheadi]

The aquarium salt instructions are not for mitigating the effect of nitrite; salt can also be used as a disease treatment but that's not what you need it for. Salt is not good for fresh water fish but they can tolerate it for short periods during treatment for illness and for helping with nitrite in the water.

That calculation is correct for use with nitrite; use 3.3 g.

Thank you.