NitrIte issues

[Miss Dib Dabs]

I can blame this on snails!!! I tested my water in the 55g this afternoon after seeing the fish breathing heavily at the top and got a nitrIte reading. I was rather shocked as I'd checked just recently and it was at 0. I checked the filter and found it wasn't working very well. Hardly any water was returning. So I looked into it and found small snails had gotten into the pump and were blocking the outlet!
Obviously I have gotten them out of the tank filter and the filter is running properly again but in the meantime I have nitrItes and the fish aren't happy! I have done a w/c of around 10-15% as soon as I found out and the largest catfish has just been moved out to his new tank but is there anything else I can do? I thought of not feeding them for 24hours to try and ease the pressure on the system for a short time until it catches up. I now have a second filter running but it's a new one and unseeded.
Hugs,
P.

 

[macssafc]

ive just had a quick look at this on this web site

http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...hp?article_id=5

What should I do if I detect nitrite?
Your first course of action upon finding nitrite should be to find out why the level is high and try to ensure that whatever caused it never happens again. Then, make a large (50% or more) partial water change to dilute the concentration of nitrite in the water.

Test daily and be prepared to make further water changes to reduce the levels.

Losses are always higher when the dissolved oxygen levels are lower, so boost the dissolved oxygen levels by adding an airstone, or by using a venturi. Keep a close eye on the fish to see if they develop any diseases.

What can I add to make nitrite less toxic to the fish?
Aquarium salt (sodium chloride) has long been used as an aid to reducing the toxicity of nitrite, because it has been shown to prevent methaemoglobinemia under certain conditions.

Some fishkeepers don't like using salt, but in my experience, when used at the correct dosage, it's never caused problems for any fish, even stereotypically salt-intolerant species. A fairly low level of salt can have a significant effect on reducing the toxicity of nitrite, so you don't need to add very much.

Research suggests a 10:1 dose (just 10mg/l of salt per 1mg/l nitrite) is effective for most freshwater species. The addition of salt for controlling disease or osmoregulatory problems does need higher doses!


hope this helps

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

There's no way I'd add salt in my 55g hon. It contains 4 synos and they're scaless!!
I shall do another w/c first thing tomorrow morning as I'm out all day after that and just keep as close an eye as pos. I can't do a bigger change sadly. The last time I tried I seriously hurt myself. I suffer from an odd medical condition which gives me attacks similar to mild heart attacks but it isn't actually my heart.
I'm sure those here who know me also know I love my fish very much, just wish I checked the filter outlet more often now so this hadn't happened at all.
Hugs,
P.

 

[macssafc]

There's no way I'd add salt in my 55g hon. It contains 4 synos and they're scaless!!
I shall do another w/c first thing tomorrow morning as I'm out all day after that and just keep as close an eye as pos. I can't do a bigger change sadly. The last time I tried I seriously hurt myself. I suffer from an odd medical condition which gives me attacks similar to mild heart attacks but it isn't actually my heart.
I'm sure those here who know me also know I love my fish very much, just wish I checked the filter outlet more often now so this hadn't happened at all.
Hugs,
P.

[snapback]890234[/snapback]​

ok id not do the salt as you say, i just took the body of the page so you could read it quicker.

just keep doing small water changes but as regular as posible that would help your guys out

hope everything goes well for you

 

[Barracuda518]

From what Ive learned and read, there is no way to get rid of the high Nitrites other then to do water changes and keep testing the water. If you add the stuff you buy in stores to lower the Nitrites, it will only lower them until as long as you keep adding the stuff. Once you stop, the nitrites will go up again.

Not feeding them as much will help too..

Good Luck

 

[rdd1952]

Not feeding them as much will help too..

[snapback]890390[/snapback]​

I would definitely cut the amount you feed them in half until the nitrite goes back down. Have you checked your ammonia? Chances are, if you have nitrite you have ammonia, especially if it is a result of the filter not working properly. If your filter was wet the whole time though, I doubt you had enough bacteria die off to cause a mini cycle. As long as the filter stays wet and there is at least some water flow, there should be only a minimal bacteria loss unless it has been that way for several weeks.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Definitely isn't that long. I cleaned the filter out a few weeks back at most. I hadn't noticed a flow loss until today. At most it'd be a few days.
Anyhow, I felt so bad I went and did another w/c of around 30-35% this evening. So hopefully it's all going to be ok.
The cat that's been moved to another tank was new from last monday and he eats alot so it may be he added a fair bit to the bioload of the filter and with the snail trouble it was all too much.
I do w/c at least once a week in all my tanks, usually more so this reading was a shock. I shall test again tomorrow with a brand new kit so we'll see what comes up then.
Thanks for all the suggestions guys.
Hugs,
P.

 

[Barracuda518]

btw, rdd is the one that told me all that stuff about nitrites B)

 

[rdd1952]

You probably are right about the new catfish. He probably created a mini cycle. With the extra water changes and moving him, you should be ok.