Nitrites And Phosphates High... Upgraded Tank.

[Gunngee]

I just set up my new 45 gallon corner tank. I used all the water from my 10 gallon and 10 gallons from my 20 gallon. I originally put the filter from my 20 gallon into the 45 but the used topfin 40 I got with the tank was so noisy I couldn't hear my tv. I bit the bullet and purchased a fluval 305. I was running the media that came with it but after loosing 5 neons and testing for ammonia, nitrites and phosphates I dropped in a bag of clearmax. The ammonia tested 0, phosphates are at 5 and nitrites are at .8. I read online somewhere that you can use salt to reduce the toxicity if nitrites. It also says to use one tablespoon per gallon. That seems like an awful lot of salt. Does anybody have any tips on this please? I'm worried about my other fish in the tank. Am I on the right track?

 

[Gunngee]

Just wondering if I am taking the right steps? Should I add more than one bag of clearmax to my filtration?

 

[Gunngee]

Well, now I'm down to 3 out of 13 neons. The 5 Giant danios are sitting at the surface gulping for air but my gold gourami and plecostimus seem unaffected.

 

[loraxchick]

Nitrite is pretty toxic stuff for the fish, and neons are a sensitive species generally so that may explain the major loss of that particular type. The only thing you can do is keep on top of waterchanges keeping the nitrite levels as close to 0 as possible. Youve encountered a fish-in cycle here. Dont be tempted with "cures" for lowering the ammonia or nitrite-unfortunately waterchanges are in order to sort them out.
generally you are right the aquarium salt can help (at a tablespoon/5 gal) but tetras and the plec (any scale-less fish really) are sensitive to it so should not be used in this case.
Get he siphon and the buckets ready! Hopefully just a mini cycle that will sort itself out soon. Unfortunately, waterchanges are in order!
All the best
cheers

 

[Gunngee]

Thanks for the info, I came home from work today and added 2 more bags of clearmax and some seachem prime just as a bit of relief to the fish. I lost 2 more neons and 2 giant danios while at work. Water changes are comming next. How many water changes per day do you think I should be doing? The weird thing is, my ammonia never spiked at all and has been 0 all along.

 

[loraxchick]

Ammonia and nitrite are converted by different bacs. My guess the ammonia bacs were at a reasonable population and not the nitrite bacs need to catch up.
do a large waterchange, wait an hour and test the water. The only way to know how often to change is to test.
all the best
cheers

 

[Gunngee]

Thanks for the help. After numerous water changes my nitrites are finally in check. I'm going to wait a couple of days with daily water tests before I add any new fish.