Newbie Mistake, Need Help With Nitrites

[98hotrod98]

Hello all,

I'll start with my problem, then explain some history below on how I ended up in this mess.
Tank: 20gal long
Filter: Aqueon 20gal
Substrate: medium sized rocks
Air: 2 air stones
Heater: Topfin 100watt set at 79
PH: 7.2-7.5
Amn: 0
Nitrites: 5-10+
Nitrates: 80+
Water hardness: Very hard
Fish: 1 small Blood Perot, 1 small convict, 5 small tiger barbs, 1 pleco, 2 snails

Problem: Nitrite and Nitrate levels are very high, Nitrite has been between 5-10+ for last 4 days and nitrates over 100.
Steps i've taken to resolve the issue:
1) Nitrite 10+ Added Detoxifier to the water on day 1, Did 30% water change
2) Nitrite 10+ Day 2 added recommended amount of freshwater API salt to tank and 20% water change + detox
3) Nitrite 10ish Day 3 fed fish small amount of food, and 30% water change + detox + bio additive
4) Nitrite 5-10 currently day 4 same nitrite levels.


Tank History: Started with 2.5gal tank 5 months ago with a few tetras, then 3months later moved to a 10gal tank using old filter + new filter and all the same rocks, water ect. After 1 month in 10 gal tank i found a great deal on a 20gal tank and upgraded again, same filter,water,rocks. A week after the 20gal change i had my water tested at the petstore and everything was perfect. 2 weeks after that my filter slowed down to a trickle, so i figured it was time change the filter. However it was still running slow, so i took it apart and cleaned out the propeller which seems to be slimed up. This did resolve the issue mostly, but i went ahead and ordered a new Marineland Pro 280 ( got in today ). Now a week later, my nitrites are very high ( i assume now that i did something to kill my bacteria).

I want to finish by saying that this is my first tank, and not once did either of the petstores i visit tell me about tank cycling, bacteria, or for that matter water changes. Everything has been a learning process out of need.

Any help you could give me on how to immediately reduce the Toxins would be greatly appreciated.

 

[HayzH]

Hello all,

I'll start with my problem, then explain some history below on how I ended up in this mess.
Tank: 20gal long
Filter: Aqueon 20gal
Substrate: medium sized rocks
Air: 2 air stones
Heater: Topfin 100watt set at 79
PH: 7.2-7.5
Amn: 0
Nitrites: 5-10+
Nitrates: 80+
Water hardness: Very hard
Fish: 1 small Blood Perot, 1 small convict, 5 small tiger barbs, 1 pleco, 2 snails

Problem: Nitrite and Nitrate levels are very high, Nitrite has been between 5-10+ for last 4 days and nitrates over 100.
Steps i've taken to resolve the issue:
1) Nitrite 10+ Added Detoxifier to the water on day 1, Did 30% water change
2) Nitrite 10+ Day 2 added recommended amount of freshwater API salt to tank and 20% water change + detox
3) Nitrite 10ish Day 3 fed fish small amount of food, and 30% water change + detox + bio additive
4) Nitrite 5-10 currently day 4 same nitrite levels.


Tank History: Started with 2.5gal tank 5 months ago with a few tetras, then 3months later moved to a 10gal tank using old filter + new filter and all the same rocks, water ect. After 1 month in 10 gal tank i found a great deal on a 20gal tank and upgraded again, same filter,water,rocks. A week after the 20gal change i had my water tested at the petstore and everything was perfect. 2 weeks after that my filter slowed down to a trickle, so i figured it was time change the filter. However it was still running slow, so i took it apart and cleaned out the propeller which seems to be slimed up. This did resolve the issue mostly, but i went ahead and ordered a new Marineland Pro 280 ( got in today ). Now a week later, my nitrites are very high ( i assume now that i did something to kill my bacteria).

I want to finish by saying that this is my first tank, and not once did either of the petstores i visit tell me about tank cycling, bacteria, or for that matter water changes. Everything has been a learning process out of need.

Any help you could give me on how to immediately reduce the Toxins would be greatly appreciated.

was the original filter cycled...and did you move the same media on to the next filter each time?
I wouldnt have thought you killed off the bacteria as they live on the sponges inside the filter, what did you clean it with? is the original media in your new pro 280?

I'm sure ppl will correct me if i'm wrong, as i am a learner myself..but i think you are stuck in a fish-in cycle, and the media isnt properly cycled..

lots and lots of water changes needed i believe, big ones too. xx HTH

 

[fluttermoth]

Don't use any additives, apart from a dechlorinator.

Aquarium salt, bio additives and 'detox', whatever the hell that is, won't be helping; all your fish need is good, clean water and lots of it. Salt is especially bad for your plec, but none of your fish will appreciate it.

Rely on large water changes, multiple ones in a day if neccesary, until the nitrite comes down.

I should also mention that you're very badly overstocked; the parrot and probably the plec, depending on species, need a much larger tank.

 

[colleen0309]

A big +1 on the water changes and don't add anything except dechlorinator. You need to get those levels down asap and only big water changes will do that. Get a test kit as soon as possible. I haven't found a shop yet that doesn't try to sell me that bacteria in a bottle to start a tank. Their job is to make money even if it is at your expence. Sorry.

 

[98hotrod98]

Original media was kept with the Aqueon 20gal filter when changed to 20gal tank. Since the 20gal filter was used for several months and water quality checked good, i assume that media was cycled. To clean the "pump" i used just plain tap water. Yesterday i installed the pro280 filter but i kept the 20gal filter also running on the tank so i dont loose whatever bacteria it have on it.


The detox product was recommended to me, its a water conditioner that is suppose to immediately eliminate Nitrite/Nitrates in the water, however i have seen 0 effect from the product. I'm testing water twice a day, and it seems that adding these " off the shelf" chemicals are doing nothing but dropping my PH.

Since i started the bio additive i have noticed alot of "slimyness" on the filter and filter pump which was only slightly there before. I just assumed this was good bacteria, should i continue use?

Sadly the pleco didn't make it through the first day, but all the other fish seem to be active, and are not breathing heavy or anything. I'm sure they are stressed, but not much i can do about it i guess.

I have continued the 30-50% water changes, but testing the water an hour after 50% water change still shows 5-10 Nitrites, so i'm not sure how much its helping.

was the original filter cycled...and did you move the same media on to the next filter each time?
I wouldnt have thought you killed off the bacteria as they live on the sponges inside the filter, what did you clean it with? is the original media in your new pro 280?

I'm sure ppl will correct me if i'm wrong, as i am a learner myself..but i think you are stuck in a fish-in cycle, and the media isnt properly cycled..

lots and lots of water changes needed i believe, big ones too. xx HTH

 

[fluttermoth]

I'm sure if you do a couple of proper, large water changes, and by that I mean 75 or 80%, it will come down.

 

[colleen0309]

Just for the heck of it, test your tap water too.

 

[98hotrod98]

Just for the heck of it, test your tap water too.

Good news, it seems the nitrates are dropping a bit. Not sure if any of the chemicals are working, or if the tank is finally finishing its cycle, but something seems to be working. I will continue 50% water changes till levels reach 0.

First water test of 5th day:
General Hardness: 180+
PH: 7.8
Nitrite: 1-3ppm
Nitrate: 60ppm


I also test my tap water:
General Hardness: 180+
PH: 7.5
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0-5

 

[fluttermoth]

I honestly think you should do larger water changes and get it down ASAP; nitrite causes more and more long term damage the longer the fish are exposed to it.

I'd be doing a 75/80% change this evening, with another one immediately after, if there was any trace of nitrite left after the first one, if it was my tank.

 

[98hotrod98]

I honestly think you should do larger water changes and get it down ASAP; nitrite causes more and more long term damage the longer the fish are exposed to it.

I'd be doing a 75/80% change this evening, with another one immediately after, if there was any trace of nitrite left after the first one, if it was my tank.

Good to know. I'll go with larger changes and see what that does.

Thanks!

 

[HayzH]

Original media was kept with the Aqueon 20gal filter when changed to 20gal tank. Since the 20gal filter was used for several months and water quality checked good, i assume that media was cycled. To clean the "pump" i used just plain tap water. Yesterday i installed the pro280 filter but i kept the 20gal filter also running on the tank so i dont loose whatever bacteria it have on it.


The detox product was recommended to me, its a water conditioner that is suppose to immediately eliminate Nitrite/Nitrates in the water, however i have seen 0 effect from the product. I'm testing water twice a day, and it seems that adding these " off the shelf" chemicals are doing nothing but dropping my PH.

Since i started the bio additive i have noticed alot of "slimyness" on the filter and filter pump which was only slightly there before. I just assumed this was good bacteria, should i continue use?

Sadly the pleco didn't make it through the first day, but all the other fish seem to be active, and are not breathing heavy or anything. I'm sure they are stressed, but not much i can do about it i guess.

I have continued the 30-50% water changes, but testing the water an hour after 50% water change still shows 5-10 Nitrites, so i'm not sure how much its helping.

was the original filter cycled...and did you move the same media on to the next filter each time?
I wouldnt have thought you killed off the bacteria as they live on the sponges inside the filter, what did you clean it with? is the original media in your new pro 280?

I'm sure ppl will correct me if i'm wrong, as i am a learner myself..but i think you are stuck in a fish-in cycle, and the media isnt properly cycled..

lots and lots of water changes needed i believe, big ones too. xx HTH

You should rarely clean your pump...but if you do swish it around in old tank water not TAP water, or you will be washing all those good bugs away xx

 

[Crick]

Anything over 0.25 is harmful do a 80% water change now, then do one tomorrow!

Remembering to temp match and de chlorinate and nothing else.

 

[98hotrod98]

Just wanted to give an update:

Day 5: 80% water change at 5pm (afterwards 0.5ppm Nitrite 40 nitrate), 10pm 50% water change.
Today: 12pm Amn levels are up to 0.05ppm ( normally 0 ) Nitrite 1ppm nitrate 40ppm. Did 50% water change, will do 80% at 5pm

Not sure why ammonia levels have risen, but latest test shows some.

Water changes are temp matched, and dechlorinated, no other additives.

 

[laura120381]

keep up the water changes. there is not much else you can do. this should bring the levels down until your filter can catch up. do frequent large changes using only dechlorinator and temperature matching the water as suggested by fluttermoth. take out as much as you can ie - leave just enough water so the fish can swim upright. the levels should drop soon!!

L

 

[98hotrod98]

Another update:
Keeping up with large water changes daily. Nitrite levels are staying around 0.5 to 1, and Nitrates are staying around 40ish.
Fish are alot more active and seem to be doing ok.

Thank you guys/gals for all your help,