Nitrites and Nitrates problem

val

Fish Crazy
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Jul 7, 2003
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Oklahoma (although I wish I wasn't)
I was testing my water today and I noticed that the nitrites and nitrates are a lot higher than normal and everything else was lower.
My readings were:
Ph-6.4
Alkalinity-around 40 ppm
Hardness-250 ppm(the same, actually)
Nitrite-10.0 ppm :eek:
Nitrate-around 20 ppm

I'm suprised my fish are still alive. But, take into consideration that I did this test a little while after I fed them flakes and one big worm.
I need to know how often and how many gallons to do water changes to get the levels back to normal. I have a 29 gallon tank with 3 danios, 2 platies, a pleco, and a crayfish.

Valerie
 
Is this a cycling tank? The nitrates are fine. The nitrites are really high tho, almost as high as when breaking in a tank.
 
I didn't do a fishless cycle. I started with the two platies and a cup of mature gravel. It's been up for about a month. Everything's been great up to now.

Valerie
 
Well, I'd have to say that it's normal to have readings of 10ppm nitrites when it's cycling. It might even go up to 15ppm if it hasn't already before they drop.
 
if you added the fish all at once you may have overloaded the bacteria throwing the tank into a mini cycle. once the tank is cycled, fish should be added slowly.

what size is the tank and what are the occupants?

semper fi
 

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