My Nitrite Has Gone To 40!

[didz04]

Hi
I have a cichlid setup and the ph is at 8 but when i checked my nitrite it had got to high, to the looks of it it looks like it is at either 20 - 40 and either way isn't good, so whats the best way to lower it.
I was thinking by water changes everyday of about 35% or is that too much for the fish?
Are there any other ways to put it down as I have baby African Cichlids in the tank as well which I think will not help their growth.

Help?

 

[stoneagedinosaur]

Any new stuff in there? I take it your tank is cycled? If in doubt - change - lots!

 

[mattlee]

Hi
I have a cichlid setup and the ph is at 8 but when i checked my nitrite it had got to high, to the looks of it it looks like it is at either 20 - 40 and either way isn't good, so whats the best way to lower it.
I was thinking by water changes everyday of about 35% or is that too much for the fish?
Are there any other ways to put it down as I have baby African Cichlids in the tank as well which I think will not help their growth.

Help?

i wouldnt worry about the growth i would worry about them still being alive...........
do a large 90% water change NOW!!!!!!! check water stats in an hour and if you still get a nitrite reading then keep going with the water changes until you hit 0, then keep a close eye on the tank. nitrite is as poisonous to your fish as ammonia so needs sorting fast

 

[didz04]

Thanks for the quick response I will start that now, I did a 25% water change yesterday and i will do another 80% now.
The tank has been cycled for 3 weeks now, I used my water from the previous tank since it was a upgrade i only could fill a quarter of the tank.

Do you know what it could be that could have risen it that high, and I will get back to you after the water change.
Thanks people

EDIT: Oh yeah would i be able to put the fish back in straight away once the temperature is right?

 

[j.jarman]

are you sure its nitrite and not nitrate that you've tested for? I cant see any fish surviving 40ppm nitrite

 

[RadaR]

Seeing as test kits don't even go to 20ppm on a nitrite test kit I'd say you've gotten mixed up with nitrate.
A nitrate reading of 40ppm isn't a problem anyway. Some places get a reading of 40ppm of nitrate coming out of the tap.

 

[mattlee]

Thanks for the quick response I will start that now, I did a 25% water change yesterday and i will do another 80% now.
The tank has been cycled for 3 weeks now, I used my water from the previous tank since it was a upgrade i only could fill a quarter of the tank.

Do you know what it could be that could have risen it that high, and I will get back to you after the water change.
Thanks people

EDIT: Oh yeah would i be able to put the fish back in straight away once the temperature is right?

your old water is pretty much useless in the new tank, also when adding new water its best to temp match it before adding it to the tank just dip your finger in the tank and then in the new water if its the same or very similar then its good to add. i just use 1 kettle of boiled water to every 10L bucket full.
as stated by others are you sure its nitrites your testing for and not nitrates......? or did you mean to put nitrates in the post and not nitrites....? easy mistake to make
if it is nitrates then 40ppm is fine and with weekly water changes it will keep it at a decent level, my tap water has 10ppm nitrate.

 

[mattlee]

how are you getting on?

 

[didz04]

Hi sorry for the late response
yeah i did a big water change and they are all swimming fine like they were before.
It was a bit of a muddle as i bought the test kit with a bundle of aquarium equipment, and the card where it tells you what to do says nitrite test and the bottle of liquid says nitrate so i guess I have done the nitrate test instead lol.
The thing is when mattlee said that will kill them and do a water change now, if it was nitrite at 40 they would be all looking sick but instead they were swimming normally which I found confusing.
So will I have to just do more little water changes or since I have done a 70% I wouldn't have to do more?
Thanks for the help and quick responses