Nitrite

[Cooper2085]

Im having a little problem with Nitrite atm, could anyone recommend a way to lower it?

 

[Lizzie71]

Just keep doing lots of water changes. I had this when my tank was new and I had to do daily 50% changes for a couple of weeks. I got through it without losing any fish though

 

[rabbut]

Mature media would also help. See the pinned thread at the top of this board for details of members neer you, with some available.

All the best
Rabbut

 

[backtotropical]

Hi Cooper2085,

In addition to taking steps to lower the nitrite level in your tank, it is a good idea to establish why you have nitrite levels, in order that you can ensure this doesn't happen again.

If you answer a few questions for us, we can help you diagnose the source of your problem.

What size tank do you have?

How long has it been set up?

What fish do you have in it?

Which filter do you use?

Did you cycle your filter? or Do you know what cycling your filter is?

How do you clean your filter and how often?

Have you replaced any of the filter media (sponges, ceramic rings etc)?

Have any your fish died recently?

How much do you feed and how often?

and finally water stats.............

Ammonia?

Nitrite?

Nitrate?

pH?

As a short term measure, i agree with the previous posts. Do water changes to lower the nitrite meantime. Try a 50% change now and another 50% change tonight. Nitrite is lethal to fish and it's essential that you lower the levels as soon as possible. You should aim to keep nitrite below 0.25ppm (0.25mg/l) until we help you to sort this out.

Cheers

BTT

 

[Cooper2085]

What size tank do you have? 126L

How long has it been set up? 5 Weeks

What fish do you have in it? 3 neon tetras, 1 male guppy, 2 female guppys, 6 harlequin tetras

Which filter do you use? 1 fluval 3+, 1 fluval 2

Did you cycle your filter? or Do you know what cycling your filter is? I used mature media from a friend

How do you clean your filter and how often? Have not been cleaned yet

Have you replaced any of the filter media (sponges, ceramic rings etc)? Replaced 1 filter in my fluval 2 with a filter to help with nitrite

Have any your fish died recently? Yes i have had trouble in the past week. 3 neons died then i had some emporor tetras which laid eggs and became aggressive and killed a guppy. One female guppy died today.

How much do you feed and how often? I had been over feeding but i did a 50% water change on thursday with a full gravel clean. Fed them again yesterday and today with a small pinch of flakes.

and finally water stats.............

Ammonia? 0.1

Nitrite?Shows on my test kit as 1.4

Nitrate? 0

pH? 7.1

 

[Larissa]

Sounds like your tank is still cycling. Seems like your ammonia is almost done with its spike. I would recomend doing daily water changes of about 25% to try and get the nitrite down untill the tanks done cycling. That is probably why you experienced a few deaths. Neons are very delicate and cannot be added to an uncycled tank - guppies are not the hardiest either. You probably experienced some bacteria die-off when you transfered mature filter media from your friends filter - the same thing happened to me and I had a nitrite spike but little to no ammonia spike.

 

[rabbut]

I would recomend doing daily water changes of about 25% to try and get the nitrite down untill the tanks done cycling.

With nitrite at 1.4, 25% daily just isn't enough. I would look at starting off with a couple of 50% water changes a day, and take it from there.

Best of luck
Rabbut

 

[Larissa]

I would recomend doing daily water changes of about 25% to try and get the nitrite down untill the tanks done cycling.

With nitrite at 1.4, 25% daily just isn't enough. I would look at starting off with a couple of 50% water changes a day, and take it from there.

Best of luck
Rabbut

Good point Rabbut.

 

[Cooper2085]

Currently at:

Ammonia: 0.2

Nitrite: 0.7

Nitrate: 0.1

pH: 7.1

I have not done a water change today and have really cut back on the amount i feed them.

 

[Larissa]

Looks like you are on the right track. Just keep up with those water changes untill the tank is fully cycled and try to keep ammonia and nitrite below 0.25, it might take a while for nitrite to comletely drop to 0 but it will get there eventually.

 

[businesslamb]

Hi cooper,
I had an ammonia and nitrite spike a couple of years ago due to a filter problem and lost some guppies. I used seachem prime to detoxify the ammonia and nitrite it certainly worked and the fish which had been gasping at the surface were back to normal within 24 hours. Check the bottle for the correct dosage

Cheers

Businesslamb

 

[Cooper2085]

Thanks for that il be sure to grab some

Im starting to be able to ell when things are wrong by my 3 neons. When the water is bad they hide away and dont swim around much, after the water changes (and 24 hours later as of now) they swim around and seem alot happier

 

[Larissa]

I'm not sure so don't quote me on this but if you detoxify the ammonia and nitrite there will be nothing to feed your filter and it will not cycle properly so you will have to continue to add the prime. Can someone verify or falsify this because I could be making it up completly.

 

[rabbut]

^^ that was my understanding of it Larissa^^

 

[Cooper2085]

Currently at:

Ammonia: 0.1

Nitrite: 0.3

Nitrate: 0.0

pH: 7.1

Looks like the worst of it is over, thats 3 water changes of 50% in 6 days.