In A Panic! Nitrites Overboard And Fish-In

[FishFanatic04]

I'm actually the cleanest, neatest person I know, and my fishtank is reflecting that. I don't know what else to say.

 

[This Old Spouse]

And you're sure your test supplies aren't expired? Did you shake the heck out of them before using?

 

[snazy]

I'm actually the cleanest, neatest person I know, and my fishtank is reflecting that. I don't know what else to say.

No one thought otherwise

Brush the fish's teeth you said

 

[FishFanatic04]

lmao...I bought a toothbrush today, NO JOKE!! but its to scrub the decorations not the fish.

The tests are accurate as they can be, I guess...Tested my tap and get different results=no nitrites there.

my log looks like a cycle...ammonia rose then fell as nitrites spiked....just sticking there.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

What are you feeding and how much and how frequently do you feed?

How are you oxygenating the tank?

 

[FishFanatic04]

My filter makes quite a bit of water movement on the surface and we are running an airpump. with 2 round airstones. I had been feeding flakes in the beginning and I've switched to brine shrimp, bloodworms, or a vegetable, NOT left in the tank, I let them nibble for a min and take it out. I also switched to once a day when the nitrites spiked...with the ammonia in my tap I didn't want to add or leave anything extra in the water.

My tests today were interesting...my ammonia was at 0. The nitrites are still overly high we haven't stopped changing the water. It's alot of work but eventually they have to go down right? I was thinking of moving the platies into a 10 gallon that I'm going to buy today. It will be uncycled but for the first week I can control the ammonia levels with water changes. That should give some time for the nitrites to start lowering in the 46.
I'll keep doing small water changes since it'll add ammonia back that's in my tap. If I start seeing uncontrollable ammonia in the 10g tank I can move them back, but it will be easier to keep the water healthier for them in a smaller tank. This can't last much longer. The levels will start falling, I think if I can leave the nitrites in there instead of constantly having the change it out we would see some better results.


It feels like we keep dosing ammonia and never give the bacteria a chance to deal with the nitrites. I'll figure it out.

Really appreciate the responses from everyone!

 

[Prime Ordeal]

The least labour intensive and most hassle-free way you can control the situation right now is to put some Purigen in your filter as I suggested earlier. It will remove most of the ammonia and thus stop the nitrite dead in its tracks.

Also your food is high in protein which makes more ammonia and hence more nitrite. I would be feeding small amounts once every other day and feeding with a a food which is mostly vegetable matter. The flake may be the better food right now depending on its protein content.

 

[snazy]

I wouldn't feed brine shrimp and worms every day. Use it as a treat once, max twice a week as it is no good for your fish otherwise

 

[FishFanatic04]

I was switching back and forth through those other three, normally I would be rotating flakes with those. I thought I read that they Don't add to the water like flakes would. I was rotating fresh veggies with the blood worms or brine shrimp so it wasn't everyday...more 3 days.

I am going to a fish shop today that I haven't been to yet so I hope they will donate or sell some media. Otherwise I'm moving the fish out of the tank so I won't NEED to use purigen. I don't want to slow down the cycle. If I have to leave them in the tank I'll try purigen. It all depends on the fish shop today... Thanks

 

[snazy]

Best of luck FishF. Hope it's all sorted soon.

 

[FishFanatic04]

My LFS wouldn't give me media because "it starts your cycle over" They also think that you HAVE to cycle with fish, the fish you cycle with take the heat for the rest you plan to get, and why was I so worried, "It's just Platys"

Luckily a lovely lady named Bethenny at a Petco a million miles from my actual store had a brain! She gave some nice grungy media with a huge smile and a "let me know if you need more" It took driving to 8 stores today before someone would help with media.

I'm testing my water right now and putting the media in a hollowed out carbon filter cartridge! woot! We'll know tomorrow I hope. Thanks to everyone for the help and suggestions.

 

[Man of fish]

What kind of media do they use? I'm interested to know...

 

[This Old Spouse]

Good luck FF! I can't wait to hear how this comes out!

 

[FishFanatic04]

I haven't tested yet, I want to wait another hour and hit the 12 hour mark. It was really just some old grungy filter wool but it should do the trick. It just looked like it had bacteria on it. And I cradled it in my lap all the way home as if it were a new fish!!!!!

 

[FishFanatic04]

OK. Well I pouted all day after the test yesterday cause the media wasn't the "instant cure" I wanted it to be. I knew it doesn't work that fast but I was really upset about my fish and had irrational hopes.

Good news!!! The purple I'm getting for nitrites actually looks like a color on the chart. It didn't go royal in the first 60 seconds. After the full wait time it is officially at a 2.0 ppm. Most people would be shocked at that number, but I'm thinking "Drinks for Everyone!!!" My ammonia is between 0-.25 and I don't know if thats ever going to change. Its been there for a few days. I think we are on our way! I'm doing a water change and then I will test tomorrow.

Hope my nitrites are lower. Thanks for the help everyone!