High Nitrites...

[sunflower]

Hi

When I got home from work today I found three dead fish ( a platty, a cory and a shrimp)

I removed the fish and did tested the water. My results were:

Ammonia - 0
Nitrate - 20
Nitrite - 5, yes that's right, 5!!!

OMG! How did this happen? The levels were all OK last week and I havent done any major rearranging or anything?

I've done a big water change already. Do I continue to do this daily?

Elizabeth, Dunk and Squishy

Sad Sunflower

 

[clutterydrawer]

oh no possibilites:

- something has added drastically to the bioload...could a fish have died without you noticing?

- something has damaged the bacterial colony eg, a water change without dechlorinator, or a filter failure/power cut

did you notice any symptoms in the last few days? it seems highly unlikely that it could have risen to 5ppm in jsut one day...

sorry to hear about your fishes

 

[black angel]

sorry about your fish.
how long has the tank been running for. the nitrate, does it test the same from your tap water.

 

[skimpy]

Oh Sunflower, I am so sorry to hear about your fish.

I agree with clutterydrawer, something must have happened, perhaps without your knowledge, adding to his suggestions, have you had any toddlers round that might have tried to be helpful in feeding your fish?

Anyway, yes I would do water changes every day until the NitrIte is back down.
What was it reading after the large water change you did? was it any better

Once you get the parameters back on track, keep in mind that this may then have lowered your fish's immunity and it might be an idea to give them a tonic as a preventative, so that no illnesses creep in.

Best of luck and hope the others will be ok.

 

[sunflower]

Thanks guys.

I'm wondering about my filter. I think that may be the problem. Seems the only logical thing to me!

I'd just like to say that chat is wonderful, thanks to CFC and Nightlife20, coming to the rescue with some fantastic filter media, all should be well by the morning (fingers crossed)

 

[canarsie11]

You removed the fish? Do you mean the dead one or the live ones?

 

[sunflower]

The dead ones

Well, they're down to 0.25 this morning which still isn't great but it's loads better than 5

 

[sunflower]

Just checked the water again and the ites are back down to 0



Thanks for all your help guys and a special shout out to CFC and Nightlife20!!

 

[Elgonte]

What did you do to remedy the problem?

 

[sunflower]

Nightlife20 kindly gave me some filter media from her tank and I packed that into my filter.

Within 24 hours the nitrites were gone

 

[Elgonte]

Oh DANG! I was hoping it would be something I could pick up and put in my filter. I guess the big secret is having a mature filter....something hurricanes like to take away.

 

[enchanted]

Elognte, you could try NitroMax. It did a reasonable job for me. I hear the Aquarium Pharmacuticals one is better though.

 

[Elgonte]

Yeah, I've got some ammocarb in there now. It's hard to tell how much it helps since there's no control to the experiment. The ammonia went down today, nitrite went up. You know the drill.

 

[canarsie11]

How is your tank doing?

 

[sunflower]

Absolutely great, thanks!