Nitrite Wont Drop...

[Norm_Deplume]

Which dechlorinator are you using? Seachem Prime claims to detoxify nitrite, though I'm not sure if it can cope with the amount in yuor tapwater. Could be worth a try though.

I'm using API Tap Water Conditioner. It claims to remove chlorine and detoxify heavy metals, but doesn't mention nitrites.

Edit to add: I've called my local health department and left a message about testing water. Meanwhile I'm heading to the grocery to get a few gallons of filtered water.

 

[Essjay]

That's the one I use. it's fine for after the tank has cycled, provided your water comapny doesn't use chloramine as it doesn't detoxify the ammonia made when chloramine is split. You'll find Pirme is the most recommended one on here for fish-in cycles.

Remember to add the bottled water a bit at a time with several hours between each addition.

 

[Norm_Deplume]

when you say "a bit", how much do you mean? I have a 10 gallon (38 L) tank. Should I only be changing out one liter at a time, or stick with percentages? Is 10% too much?

(BTW, just went and bought bottled water. Testing it just to make sure I'm not just screwing up the testing. Sure enough, the bottled water is well under the legal limit for nitrite.)

Also, do I need to add dechlorinator to the bottled water? It's reverse-osmosis treated water, if that helps.

 

[Essjay]

Does the bottled water say what its contents are. If it is RO water without any minerals in, it won't be good for fish as very very few fish can live in mineral free water. You have to add minerals back in to make it safe for fish, usually called smething like remineralisation salts. I'm afraid I don't know what makes are available in the US. Though it is possible the bottled water have had something added, I would check the label. I think someone once said that a lot of US bottled water had plain salt (the kind you cook with) and sugar added, but I couldn't swear to that being true.

For a 10 gall tank, I would add 1 gall now, then in a few hours add another 1 gall and so on, but don't change more than half the water in total. That won't get your nitrite down by more than a bit, but you will still have some minerals left. Then asap find a shop that sells remineralisation salts. I know that Kent marine sell something called RO right, and I think they are an American company (their products are sold in the UK) and there will be other companies that I don't know about.

 

[Norm_Deplume]

Thanks so much for all your help. I just put 2 liters of the RO water in, but will hold off adding any more until I can find some remineralization salts. There is a LFS a couple of towns away, I'll call them this afternoon and see if they have that.


I know he's just a $1 fish, but we've all grown very attached to him, especially since his tankmate died.

 

[Wolfie1877]

Try about a quarter for starters, wait about half an hour for the new water to mix in thoroughly and test for nitrite. If it's still off the top, do a bit more. Don't forget to turn the heater off first (risk of it cracking if the water drops) and dechlorinate the new water.

Will do this tonite and post back the results. Just FYI my tapwater has 0ppm nitrite as i checked this to make sure my testkit wasnt duff

 

[Wolfie1877]

Try about a quarter for starters, wait about half an hour for the new water to mix in thoroughly and test for nitrite. If it's still off the top, do a bit more. Don't forget to turn the heater off first (risk of it cracking if the water drops) and dechlorinate the new water.

Will do this tonite and post back the results. Just FYI my tapwater has 0ppm nitrite as i checked this to make sure my testkit wasnt duff

ok so I did a 50% water change and waited about 40 mins. Checked the nitrites and they are still off the scale!! Another change tomorrow? I'll hold off putting any more ammonia in until I can get them under control.

Any suggestions welcome. It's becoming frustrating now!

 

[Essjay]

I would do another water change tomorrow and see what that does to the nitrite reading, then when you get it somewhere on the scale, start doing the smaller ammonia additions till the nitrite reading starts to fall, before increasing the ammonia dose back up.

 

[Wolfie1877]

I would do another water change tomorrow and see what that does to the nitrite reading, then when you get it somewhere on the scale, start doing the smaller ammonia additions till the nitrite reading starts to fall, before increasing the ammonia dose back up.

Thanks for the advice. I'll report back in tomorrow!

 

[Wolfie1877]

UPDATE:
So i did the water change, dosed back up and voila...0ppm ammonia and 0ppm nitrite. also checked it wasnt a one off by dosing to 4ppm and it was clear within 24 hours.

got myself a few tetra to start and ill go from there

thanks for all the input. want a bigger tank already!