Nitrite Spike After Large Water Change- It's Spiked Again

[balajake]

I think having nitrites at over 5ppm would leave no options but to do 90% water changes. I think testing tomorrow, 24 hours after the change of substrate will tell us where we stand. Let's tackle one issue at a time. I think it was the sand causing it but we shall see


Can I ask if after the morning water changes, we're the nitrites usually up again by this time when you tested again or was it the day after ?

 

[FishFanatic04]

Yuck, just noted to myself...carefully watch my sand!!! I bet that was the cause....before I switched to sand my gravel was holding lots of nasties, I think that can happen with any substrate. Glad your nitrites are at 0 for now. Hope its stays.

 

[Ny82]

I think having nitrites at over 5ppm would leave no options but to do 90% water changes. I think testing tomorrow, 24 hours after the change of substrate will tell us where we stand. Let's tackle one issue at a time. I think it was the sand causing it but we shall see


Can I ask if after the morning water changes, we're the nitrites usually up again by this time when you tested again or was it the day after ?

It's usually the day after-I just about died when I tested it this morning and it was purple after being light blue only hours ago.

Yuck, just noted to myself...carefully watch my sand!!! I bet that was the cause....before I switched to sand my gravel was holding lots of nasties, I think that can happen with any substrate. Glad your nitrites are at 0 for now. Hope its stays.

Thanks I hope it stays too or I will actually scream-and then cry in the corner whilst rocking backwards and forwards

 

[balajake]

Think you've earned a glass of wine lol

 

[Sask Aquarist]

I wouldn't do any water changes. If NITRATE is high do a 20% If NITRITE is high don't do any water change.

 

[balajake]

I wouldn't do any water changes. If NITRATE is high do a 20% If NITRITE is high don't do any water change.

That is wrong. Nitrate levels are only really harmful at over 50ppm or higher. nitrites are deadly at low amounts like 0.25ppm.


Nitrates = Ok
Nitrites = not ok

 

[Sask Aquarist]

I wouldn't do any water changes. If NITRATE is high do a 20% If NITRITE is high don't do any water change.

That is wrong. Nitrate levels are only really harmful at over 50ppm or higher nitrites are deadly at low amounts like 0.25ppm.

Nitrate is a waste product it can be removed with water changes. Nitrite can't be removed with water changes because it's part of the nitrogen cycle. Ammonia>Nitrite>Nitrate nitrite is deadlier in low doses but changing the water non stop will continue with the nitrite always rising back up as the bacteria tries to reestablish itself.

Nitrite = Not okay
Nitrate = Not okay

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Your stock is fine and no way would it be that amount of fish causing your nitrite to go that high in 24 hours. It has to be 80% the dirty sand to blame as it was rancid and holding all sorts of nasties. Then 20% your filter holding dirt and gungy sand. You have nitrates so your filter was working hard to convert it but obviously the substrate was so toxic it was overloading your filter. I think having a change to a new filter is always a delicate operation even when Adding cycled filter media so there can be problems whilst your bacteria transfers and grows onto your new pads, so testing and water changes will always come into play if things go tits up. If you get problems with nitrites or ammonia I always look at the substrate and filter media being dirty as a possible cause if water changes aren't reducing the problem. Seachem prime can also help whilst cycling your tank as it will neutralise ammonia and nitrites.

There are much, much wiser people than me on this forum who might have a different answer than me but I hope the advise I've given helps your tank. I'm really anxious to see your test results tomorrow, I'm praying it makes a difference.

The correct advice was given in post number 2! i.e. "Also stop feeding for a few days and give the tank a really good clean, this will reduce the ammonia production and hence the nitrite." Could have saved a whole thread if it had been heeded.

 

[balajake]

Your stock is fine and no way would it be that amount of fish causing your nitrite to go that high in 24 hours. It has to be 80% the dirty sand to blame as it was rancid and holding all sorts of nasties. Then 20% your filter holding dirt and gungy sand. You have nitrates so your filter was working hard to convert it but obviously the substrate was so toxic it was overloading your filter. I think having a change to a new filter is always a delicate operation even when Adding cycled filter media so there can be problems whilst your bacteria transfers and grows onto your new pads, so testing and water changes will always come into play if things go tits up. If you get problems with nitrites or ammonia I always look at the substrate and filter media being dirty as a possible cause if water changes aren't reducing the problem. Seachem prime can also help whilst cycling your tank as it will neutralise ammonia and nitrites.

There are much, much wiser people than me on this forum who might have a different answer than me but I hope the advise I've given helps your tank. I'm really anxious to see your test results tomorrow, I'm praying it makes a difference.

The correct advice was given in post number 2! i.e. "Also stop feeding for a few days and give the tank a really good clean, this will reduce the ammonia production and hence the nitrite." Could have saved a whole thread if it had been heeded.

Can you reply to post 37 please as your much more knowledgable than me

 

[Ny82]

Think you've earned a glass of wine lol

I don't do wine but I could murder a pina colada right now lol.

I wouldn't do any water changes. If NITRATE is high do a 20% If NITRITE is high don't do any water change.

It took me some hassle to get the nitrates to work, They are orange-i'm just glad they are working, they were showing at 0 every time I tested them.

I wouldn't do any water changes. If NITRATE is high do a 20% If NITRITE is high don't do any water change.

That is wrong. Nitrate levels are only really harmful at over 50ppm or higher nitrites are deadly at low amounts like 0.25ppm.

I hope mines stay low. I forgot to say also - i'm glad my stocking levels are ok, I was giving all my fish away thinking I was morbidly overstocked. I want to get another shoal of platinum tetras or the tiny rasboras once this issue has resolved.
My tank looks rubbish now. It's so bare since I have a thin layer of sand and taken most the plants out as they were wilting.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

I wouldn't do any water changes. If NITRATE is high do a 20% If NITRITE is high don't do any water change.

That is wrong. Nitrate levels are only really harmful at over 50ppm or higher nitrites are deadly at low amounts like 0.25ppm.

Nitrate is a waste product it can be removed with water changes. Nitrite can't be removed with water changes because it's part of the nitrogen cycle. Ammonia>Nitrite>Nitrate nitrite is deadlier in low doses but changing the water non stop will continue with the nitrite always rising back up as the bacteria tries to reestablish itself.

Nitrite = Not okay
Nitrate = Not okay

This is wrong Sask Aquarist. Ammonia and nitrite are the deadly ones even in low quantities but nitrate is relatively harmless as long as it's kept below 50ppm (ish). Any one of these toxins can be reduced by water change as long as the new water has less of the toxin in it than the tank water.

 

[Sask Aquarist]

Chemical composition of Ammonia = NH3 Nitrite = NO2 Nitrate = NO3

Hydrogen released from ammonia, floating nitrogen molecules that gain oxygen as the bacteria eats and disposes of ammonia, Bacteria consume the NO2 producing NO3 which is a waste product from fish feces and bacterial production. Ammonia>Nitrite>Nitrate.

I wouldn't do any water changes. If NITRATE is high do a 20% If NITRITE is high don't do any water change.

That is wrong. Nitrate levels are only really harmful at over 50ppm or higher nitrites are deadly at low amounts like 0.25ppm.

Nitrate is a waste product it can be removed with water changes. Nitrite can't be removed with water changes because it's part of the nitrogen cycle. Ammonia>Nitrite>Nitrate nitrite is deadlier in low doses but changing the water non stop will continue with the nitrite always rising back up as the bacteria tries to reestablish itself.

Nitrite = Not okay
Nitrate = Not okay

This is wrong Sask Aquarist. Ammonia and nitrite are the deadly ones even in low quantities but nitrate is relatively harmless as long as it's kept below 50ppm (ish). Any one of these toxins can be reduced by water change as long as the new water has less of the toxin in it than the tank water.

And as the bacteria developes you get more nitrite nitrate...Ending in a continuous non stop nitrogen cycle as you replace your water everyday.
Nitrate is the most harmless. But ammonia and nitrite reach a stable point after you let the water/filter mature. doing huge changes all the time just make more ammonia/ nitrite.

 

[Ny82]

Your stock is fine and no way would it be that amount of fish causing your nitrite to go that high in 24 hours. It has to be 80% the dirty sand to blame as it was rancid and holding all sorts of nasties. Then 20% your filter holding dirt and gungy sand. You have nitrates so your filter was working hard to convert it but obviously the substrate was so toxic it was overloading your filter. I think having a change to a new filter is always a delicate operation even when Adding cycled filter media so there can be problems whilst your bacteria transfers and grows onto your new pads, so testing and water changes will always come into play if things go tits up. If you get problems with nitrites or ammonia I always look at the substrate and filter media being dirty as a possible cause if water changes aren't reducing the problem. Seachem prime can also help whilst cycling your tank as it will neutralise ammonia and nitrites.

There are much, much wiser people than me on this forum who might have a different answer than me but I hope the advise I've given helps your tank. I'm really anxious to see your test results tomorrow, I'm praying it makes a difference.

The correct advice was given in post number 2! i.e. "Also stop feeding for a few days and give the tank a really good clean, this will reduce the ammonia production and hence the nitrite." Could have saved a whole thread if it had been heeded.

I didn't give them an algae wafer last night or feed them this morning. I scrub the tank with the brush everytime I do a water change anyway. Just should have swirled the sand more

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Chemical composition of Ammonia = NH3 Nitrite = NO2 Nitrate = NO3

Well, more precisely, the ammonia exists as two distinct chemical species ammonia (NH3) and Ammonium(NH4+), Nitrite = NO2- and Nitrate = NO3-

Hydrogen released from ammonia, floating nitrogen molecules that gain oxygen as the bacteria eats and disposes of ammonia...

Well the ammonia (actually ammonium) is processed by the ammonia eating bacteria initially into hydroxyl amine and eventually into nitrite, there's no floating "nitrogen molecules"


Bacteria consume the NO2 producing NO3 which is a waste product from fish feces...

Yes another bacteria process the NO2- but the nitrate is a waste process of this bacteria and only indirectly of fish faeces (and other organics).

and bacterial production. Ammonia>Nitrite>Nitrate.

That's true

And as the bacteria developes you get more nitrite nitrate...Ending in a continuous non stop nitrogen cycle as you replace your water everyday.

Replacing the water reduces all three toxins, as explained, as long as the new water is lower in concentration of any particular toxin.

Nitrate is the most harmless. But ammonia and nitrite reach a stable point after you let the water/filter mature. doing huge changes all the time just make more ammonia/ nitrite.

No, it's really important that you understand this: changing water reduces the level of toxins. It's why the fishkeepers mantra is "dilution is the solution to pollution".

 

[Sask Aquarist]

I personally dont believe in changing water that often. I do a 25% change every two weeks and my water has next to.nothing for nitrate and no ammonia or nitrite. everybody does things differently.