Nitrite And Nitrate Out Of Control

[Larkspur]

My boyfriend lost one of his young African cichlids last night. When I got to his house I asked if he tested the water. He said no so I checked the stats with one of those simple dip strips and was like...HOLY cow. How are any of these fish still alive???

The nitrate was bright pink of the strip (borederline between caution and danger or something....not sure what numbers)

The nitrite was what struck me as we've never had a problem with it before. It was at a whopping 20+ ppm (?) and I think it should be at the very highest around .5

So I immediately took the initiative and did a 50% water change and added extra prime to the water. It didn't put a dent in it.

We ended up buying a new filter for the tank. Probably not the smartest move making so many changes at once. It was something we had been putting off, but NEED. There are about 8 cichlids/2 syndontis in that 10 gallon and it was a cheap 10 dollar pump. We added a pump for 20-40 gallon tank. I knew all along that we needed a higher powered filter in that tank, but the water was fine before.

Nitrite levels were still so horrible by tonight I ended up vacuuming the gravel and getting another 15% or so out.

So it's a 10 gallon tank, overstocked, and yes...highly overfed too. The tank itself has only been set up and running for about a month and a half. And no this is not a permanent home for the poor things! This is a small QT tank and the young cichlids are far too small to put with the big ones yet. They will be in a 55 gallon probably by Wednesday.

I'm fairly certain that this is mostly just the overfeeding and overstocking biting us in the butt. What can we do to help lower the levels though? Sucks the tank went out of whack now when we're about 2 days shy of introducing them to the 55 gallon tank.

 

[Bignose]

Water changes. Large ones. If it is all from the same source (tap water) then all you have to worry about is getting the temperature in the neighborhood of the original. If the nitrites are as high as you say they are, then you should do several 75% waterchanges about 1 hour apart. Dilution is the solution to this pollution.

Oh, and, at its "very highest" it should be zero. It is just as poisonous as ammonia, and some fish are more susceptible to nitrite poisoning that ammonia poisoning.

That said, if a 50% water change didn't make a dent, and the fish don't have any of the signs of nitrite poisoning, it may just be a faulty or expired kit.

 

[Larkspur]

Definitely not a faulty kit. I tested the strips in the bottle on our other 2 tanks. A 37 and another 10 gallon and both had 0 for nitrite and the large tank had just a slight bit of nitrate which seems to be the norm for the tank. He's NEVER vaccuumed that poor tank and he has like 4 inches of gravel. It's disgusting. I bought a vaccuum today so I can get on that tank tomorrow.

I will text my bf and have him do a change ASAP in the morning. The last we want is to lose the fish. I'm tempted to call him now, but he'd kill me. It's pushing 11pm here. XD He's in bed so he can get up early for work.

 

[Bignose]

Then large water changes it is -- if you think the fish would be ok, do as large as 90%. You have to dilute as much of that poison as possible.

 

[Larkspur]

I think it will be okay. If anything we will take some water out the 37 to help refill the 10 gallon.

 

[hamfist]

Yup, water changes are the only option. After that treat it effectively as if it were an unfiltered tank for the next few days.

 

[Larkspur]

Thanks! I made my bf come home on his lunch break and change it. Haha. He said he did at least 80%.

But the great news is that the stand for the 55 is DONE. He even put the tank on the stand. So when I get off work today I'm going to add gravel and begin filling it painstakingly with water.

 

[hamfist]

Thanks! I made my bf come home on his lunch break and change it. Haha. He said he did at least 80%.

But the great news is that the stand for the 55 is DONE. He even put the tank on the stand. So when I get off work today I'm going to add gravel and begin filling it painstakingly with water.

Great news !!

 

[Larkspur]

Of course I didn't have my camera on me. Should have snapped a picture with my phone, but the 10 gallon QT tank of doom is now empty. We filled the 55 gallon, added the water, heater, and filter. Then about an hour later we fished out the 7 cichlids and 2 syndontis and went ahead and put them in the tank. We figured a gigantic brand new tank that's not cycled is safer than the craziness in the 10 gallon! They freaked out at first, but within an hour they were loving it!

As for the 10 gallon, my bf did he said an 80% water change and when we tested the water STILL nitrites and nitrates through the roof. It did lower the levels, but not enough by any means. I don't know what to think of it.

 

[hamfist]

As for the 10 gallon, my bf did he said an 80% water change and when we tested the water STILL nitrites and nitrates through the roof. It did lower the levels, but not enough by any means. I don't know what to think of it.

Its just possible that your tap water is contaminated or very bad quality just at the moment for some reason. Have you tested it ?

 

[Larkspur]

Not tested the water straight out the tap, but we have tested the water that is from the tap, primed, and ready to use and 0 for both nitrite and nitrate.

We also have a 37 gallon and another 10 gallon which are both fine and I tested the 55 gallon before putting the fish in. So...I don't know!