Nitrite And Filtration

[katykaye]

After spending a stressful week with my nitItes fluctuating between .25 and 1.0 I am still stressed. Today its back up to 1.0 despite a 60% water change last night. My other readings are (amonia 0, ph 7.8, nitrate 20 ) and they haven't fluctuated at all. This has been going on since last wednesday and I have, with advice from members here, been doing water changes daily.

However, I was just thinking that maybe I should get some more filtration? The tank is 120L Juwel with the inbuilt filter/heater, and I have an airstone and a bubble river.

still water changing but still looking to find a way of sorting it out.

help and/or advice greatly recieved.

 

[doresy]

Questions, how long has the tank been set up? Is it planted (real)? What testing kit are you using? Are there any signs of stress?

Have you checked for a dead fish hidden away?

My guess is that the filter (Juwel aren't the best) is just not coping with your over-stocking.

Try stop feeding COMPLETELY for 3 days and test again

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, maybe you need to explore that stocking you list and the capacity of the filter on the Juwel with some of the ones here familiar with that setup.

I remember you shifted your media and water over along with the fish from a smaller tank, right? It just seems like you've definately lost most of the Nbac colony and need to get fully re-cycled since this big changeover.

Meanwhile you have no choice but to keep doing whatever water changes will keep you down at 0.25 rather than up at 1.0 and above.

Maybe you will find you need an additionaly cannister filter, but I would explore that with the members first before such an expensive outlay.

~~waterdrop~~
ps. I see dorsey taking a look, maybe he'll have a question or two.

 

[katykaye]

Questions, how long has the tank been set up? The tank has been set up for 3 weeks now - I used the water and filter media from my 54L in order that I could use it straight away
Is it planted (real)? Yes its planted with real plants - I have 8 plants

What testing kit are you using? I use the liquid testing kit - API?

Are there any signs of stress? only from me , not my fish

Have you checked for a dead fish hidden away? All my fish are accounted for

My guess is that the filter (Juwel aren't the best) is just not coping with your over-stocking. don't be shy - if you have something to say about my stocking that will help then please say so

Try stop feeding COMPLETELY for 3 days and test again They haven't been fed now for 36 hours

 

[katykaye]

I am currently cycling another tank to put some fish in but of course that takes time - I can probably find homes for the guppies and the molly but the rest have nowhere else to go - so I just need to know what the best thing for them right now is.

Thanks for your help

 

[doresy]

ok I wont be shy, you Are overstocked

What you are suggesting moving will help as guppies are not hardy fish!

Using matured media certainly helps but it's no gaurantee to allow full stocking above that of the tank it came from. The water holds very little, if any, advantage.

The media from your 54 ltr's filter will have a bacteria level to deal with whatever fish stock you had in that tank. If you have, as I suspect, set up your larger tank with the media from the 54 litr then added several more fish all at once then your filter is going through what is known as a 'mini cycle'

The filter looks as though it's caught up with the ammonia processing bacteria but is still building up its nitrite processing bacteria that, as you will remember from your first cycling, takes much longer.

You are now cycling WITH fish basically Keep up with the 25% water changes for a few days, leave off feeding for at least another 36 hours and move the fish that you said you can. Then test again for ammonia/nitrite. API kits are about as good as it gets for the money

The fish are showing no outward signs of stress which is good but nitrites present can cause long term effects.

For your stress I suggest chocolate

 

[katykaye]

Thank you

Chocolate already eaten (after the water change of course )

 

[rhostog]

Just a suggestion - have you checked your tapwater for nitrites? Mine contains about 0.2 out of the tap. I couldn't see where you're based, but in the UK it's allowed to go up to 0.5 in drinking water as a matter of course, and can occasionally get higher. I had a persistent trace of nitrite in my tank, tried to help my poor fish with lots of water changes, only to discover I was putting the nitrite in there myself

Good luck, and hope the chocolate did the trick.

 

[katykaye]

I tested my tapwater just now - the nitrite is showing at 0 - that lovely sky blue that I wish my tank had

I tested my tank water 15 mins after doing a 30% water change and nitrites already showing at .50

 

[iankent]

I tested my tapwater just now - the nitrite is showing at 0 - that lovely sky blue that I wish my tank had

I tested my tank water 15 mins after doing a 30% water change and nitrites already showing at .50

you might have nitrites and ammonia left in your filter, which will show up in your test results once the waters been recycled around your tank! giving the media a quick rinse in the tank water before doing the water change should help clear some of it!