Nitrite Spike

[Paul70]

I have tested my water today and after almost 5 weeks of zero readings for nitrites I have had a nitrite spike of 0.25 ppm.

My fish seem ok and are behaving normally. Will this spike right itself and stimulate growth of more n-bacs or do I need to take any remedial action. A few days ago I changed 50% of my water and I fear I may not have let the water treatment work for long enough (seachem prime) and this may have killed some of my n-bacs.

what do other members think please?

 

[anon02]

Another 50% water change will reduce the nitrite to an acceptable level but you need to find the cause of the ammonia that will have produced the nitrite, maybe over feeding or lack of gravel vac etc
Prime is almost instant so no problem there

 

[Gilli]

If you have not added more fish which would put a strain on the bio load then there must be a reason for the spike. Have you had a head count as it could be down to rotting dead fish? Other than that as mentioned could be bad tank housekeeping - are you changing 30% of your your water and having a good gravel vac once a week? Also if you have live plants make sure you remove any rotting leaves.

Cut back on feeding until your stats are back to normal and continue to do large water changes (which will not affect your bacteria count) daily until your nitrite reading is back to 0.

 

[Paul70]

I found one of my green tiger barbs dead this morning but last night I had a full complement of fish so she has died overnight. I intend to change 25% water daily until stats are back to normal. I feel that I may be overfeeding to be honest as this morning there were a large number of food pellets still on the substrate surface uneaten. I vac for faeces twice a week and am meticulous in checking water stats. there are also no rotting plant leaves at the moment so I think it must be too much food.

98litre tank
7 x green tiger barbs
8 x puntius partipentazona barbs
6 x cardinal tetra
1 x Red Tail Black Shark

could I be overstocked?
I am going to buy an oxygen level test kit and perhaps add an airstone or secondary air driven filter