High Nitrites! Help

[teamfargo]

We had some beautiful goldfish in our pond and put them in a tank to winter indoors. The aquarium has been set up since Sept/Oct. and all was fine. My son wanted some new fish and, against my wishes, his dad bought four little feeder goldfish.

The fish started dying, so I checked the water. Nitrites were really high (bright pink on the test strip???). The petstore said to do a 30% water change and just wait.

The wait (now on day 3) is resulting in more dead fish. I have only a couple left and would like to know if there is anything I can do besides 'wait'?

Oh, lets see....no heater, 29 gal. tank...outside bio-filter. Had 7 fish (three born this summer, so they were small and four 5" goldfish.) I realize that I had my limit of fish for the tank, and that is why I said "no" to the extra fish. After daddy let him start picking out feeder goldfish, I was stuck. We were planning on putting them all in the pond in another few weeks when we got it cleaned out and re-done.

 

[Salt Freak]

the problem is having the tank running with no fish in it caused all the good bacteria to die so what you can do is put in a bacteria starter you can get it at a pet store.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

With high nitrAtes do large daily water changes, it's the only way to get rid of them. You should notice results almost immediatley.

Ooops, you said NitrIte. Same idea though and as Sue said, salts are good to help fish in the tank, providing they are tolerant.

 

[suemack]

as cheesie said ....daily w/changes - other thing that could help is to disolve a small amount of aquarium salt in water and add it to the tank. It can help the fish deal with nitrite in the water......helps to reduce the toxicity of nitrite. I'd only start with a teaspoon disolved at first.......max in a 29 gall tank would probably be 2 - 3 full teaspoons - always remembering that salt doesn't evaporate....it has to be diluted by w/changes.

good luck
sue

 

[teamfargo]

Okay...if I am doing a daily water change in a 29 gallon tank, how much water should I be taking out each time?

This tank has been set up with fish since Sept., so I thought it was well established. I am assuming the addition of the new fish threw things off...is this correct?

I will add the bacteria starter...is that ok even though the tank has been up and running for over 6 months? I will also check out the aquarium salt. Are these two different products? Can I put both in the water or would I need to choose one product or the other?

 

[suemack]

hi teamfargo...most of bacteria starter products are designed to be used in established tanks so that should be fine. Aquarium salt is not a bacteria starter but just may help to reduce the toxicity of the nitrite to the fish......and yes I've used it at the same time as Cycle with no ill-effects.

Check and make sure there are no dead fish, left over food or decaying plants that could be contributing to the nitrite. It could be the new fish but also could be one of the above

sue

 

[teamfargo]

Thanks so much on the verification of the details...

How much water would you change each day?

 

[suemack]

how do you normally do the w/changes - with a python or a bucket? I still do mine with a bucket ( all 5 tanks of them) and change between 2 - 4 buckets per change in the 29 gall. IMO a larger w/change 25+% on the first one, then maybe 10% daily .....more if the nitrite is higher, less if there's no change or it's dropped........and watch the fish - if they're looking stressed change more etc

Try to match the tank temp if you can ....much less stressful for the fish.

sue

 

[teamfargo]

(just did an internet search)
My goodness - where have I been?! I do mine with a bucket as I did not know they have that handy gadget! In fact, the water changes are the reason why I have not had a tank for the last few years. I tore my rotator cuff and have shoulder problems now. Hard to lift that 5 gallon bucket! I even made sure the tank was as close as possible to the bathroom so I wouldn't have to carry the water so far...


To answer you question, yes - with a bucket. A big 5 gallon bucket, so that is a 15% water change normally. The petstore told me to do a 30% water change a few days ago and now I did a 15% one tonight thanks to the help here.

Slightly off topic...how does one match water temp with the python and more importantly, how do you add your declorinator to the water....is it ok to just pour a bit in the tank after adding the water? I was told to put the water in the bucket, add the declorinator and then let it sit for awhile before putting in the tank.

 

[suemack]

not too sure teamfargo.....but guess you could connect to both taps and premix the water to the right temp
.....as for the water conditioner..... maybe put it into the tank prior to adding the water

my bucket only holds just over 2 galls .....more trips to the tap but less sore shoulders ....guess we should be greatful that the tanks are only 29 gall tanks

sue

 

[teamfargo]

Thanks again for all the help! I'm feeling much more optimistic than having to 'wait'. I was thinking that there should be something one can do in this situation....

 

[karrihug]

don't know how anyone does it without a python, you run your tap water to the right temp to fill and add conditioner in the stream of water as you fill. only reason i got another big tank, i have pinched siatic nerve and can't do buckets at all.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

don't know how anyone does it without a python, you run your tap water to the right temp to fill and add conditioner in the stream of water as you fill. only reason i got another big tank, i have pinched siatic nerve and can't do buckets at all.

I couldn't use one as I don't have a combination tap. I am quite happy syphoning water into buckets from the tank and then into the tank.

 

[konrad05]

I use an old powerhead to pump the new water back into the tank, it works great and I don't have to lift the 5 gallon bucket above water level.

 

[Panda Cory]

I had the same problem with high ammonia and nitrite levels. My LFS recommended that I add "Prime" to my fish tank during every water change. It really worked; my fish tank was clear in a day or two! I highly recommend this product for any fish tank with ammonia or nitrite problems.