Nitrit And Nitrat

[STRAWBERRY748]

Please can anyone help - my tank has been running since February and everything has been fine. It is a 39 gallon tank and I recently changed to chiclids about 4 weeks ago - every thing was fine untill last night - when my nitrit went to 3.3mg/l and my nitrat to around 50 mg/l - the fish look fine although they are breathing heavy - i have 13 small chichlids the lagest been about 2" long - i have a fluval +4 internal filter and a eheim 2331 external filter - coral sand and ocean rock - p.h of 8 and only a slight discolour on the amonia reading ( fist color change on the chart - i did 25% water change and the amonia was test this morning was clear)

what shall i do next and will adding salt help - i read somewhere this will reduce nitrit?


thanking you in advance

Dave

 

[dwarfgourami]

Water changes!

Id' start with 50% if the nitrites are that high, then down to 25-30% Every day until the situation is under control. Salt does not take nitrites away but makes them less toxic.

 

[STRAWBERRY748]

Water changes!

Id' start with 50% if the nitrites are that high, then down to 25-30% Every day until the situation is under control. Salt does not take nitrites away but makes them less toxic.

THANKS VERY MUCH

REGARDS
DAVE

 

[rdd1952]

I can't imagine what would have made the nitrite jump up like that. Did you do any extra cleaning (such as rinsing the filter a little harder or even changing the media) recently? As dwarfgourami mentioned, do water changes. The one good thing is that your ammonia is zero and your nitrates are high so I think your bacteria is quickly taking care of the problem. It may rectify itself before you even get the water changes started.

 

[STRAWBERRY748]

did a fifty% water change - added bio zorb to the filter and replacement water had tetra water treatment added - after 12 hrs nitrits still high - i will keep you informed

thanks to all who replied

 

[STRAWBERRY748]

I can't imagine what would have made the nitrite jump up like that. Did you do any extra cleaning (such as rinsing the filter a little harder or even changing the media) recently? As dwarfgourami mentioned, do water changes. The one good thing is that your ammonia is zero and your nitrates are high so I think your bacteria is quickly taking care of the problem. It may rectify itself before you even get the water changes started.

no - the only thing i have done recently is added two fish in the last week - with a four day gap between purchases

 

[rdd1952]

I wonder if you test kits has suddenly gone bad. Just keep up with the water changes until they drop.

 

[annka5]

In addition, could you check that your filter is working properly? Have you maybe had a power cut that would stop the filter say for an hour or more? That would cause some bacteria die-off.