Nitrite

[plectastic]

I read a small amount of Nitrite for the first time yesterday. I changed 50% of the water. I tested again today and it's still there, between 0.15 - 0.25. I need to change the water again and will probably do 75% this time but I'm waiting on my 200ml's of AquaSafe to arrive in the post. It's 3 bloomin days late. The fish seem ok apart from 1 Zebra Loach who seems to be laying on it's side a lot then getting up, then back down again etc. Anything I can do in the mean time?

 

[the_lock_man]

What test kit are you using?

 

[CezzaXV]

You can leave water standing in a bucket or similar for 24 hours to let chlorine gas off. It wont get rid of chloramine though, and it won't help you today, but it may help you tomorrow if your dechlor doesn't turn up.

No chance of going out to a local shop to get a cheap bottle of dechlor? I'm sure it'll cost you less than the replacement cost of the fish if they die from the nitrite in the meantime.

 

[plectastic]

Api. Ok if it doesn't come tomorrow I'll grab some. Thanks.

 

[plectastic]

75% water change today and Nitrites now down to about 0.10. Will check again tomorrow. Bloomin annoying doing big changes.

 

[Flute]

Just out of curiosity, how long has the tank been running for? If it's a mature tank then hopefully things will balance out soon and you wont be doing the big water changes for long. Have you checked for anything that could be causing the spike? Dead fish or uneaten food for example?

 

[plectastic]

It's been going for just a couple of weeks now, fish-in cycle. Nitrites and ammonia have been 0 every day until yesterday where I saw upto 0.25 nitrite. I changed the water and again today after seeing about 0.15 nitrite again. Feeding a small wafer broken in half every other day. Occupants all seem ok. Hopefully it's just the filter bacteria still establishing!

 

[Flute]

Ah, that would explain it then All part of the process, and unfortunately the huge water changes is what makes fish in cycles so difficult. You may need to do a couple of water changes a day to keep your ammonia and nitrite levels as low as possible, preferably at 0. Try doing something like a 75% change as you already are and then test again a couple of hours later. If there is still a low reading then I would say it would be worth doing another 30% change or so. I know it's a pain, but fish in cycles are very hard on the fish and can result in shortened life spans, so it's worth all the water changes to keep them healthy

 

[plectastic]

Thanks bud.