Nitrites Rising

[netcode]

I have been testing my tank every few days and I have noticed that my nitrites are rising.. what do I do? Besides a water change of course as I do one every week(roughly 45-50%). my tank is pretty much full of plants so I can't add too much more. ps its a 65 gallon US tank. I have 9 serpae tetras. 12 tiger barbs. 1 schilbedae catfish and 1 blue ram.


thanks in advance

 

[blue acara]

id just keep testing the water every day and if necessery change water daily.-make sure to use a decrolinator on the new water

Have you already cycled the tank?

if you have u may be getting nitrite spikes because you cleaned the filter in tap water-killing some of the good bacteria. clean the filter media gently with aquarium water when you clean the filter

 

[qwikimpss]

Yeah, it sounds like your tank is going thru a cycle to me, really the only explaination for nitrites rising.

Do frequent water changes as previously suggested with water conditioner and when you clean your filter media make sure you do it in old tank water, not fresh tap water.

 

[netcode]

I never cycled my tank.. which is an issue. but the tank has had fish in it for about 4 weeks now and up until yesterday (when I added more fish) the nitrites starting rising.. so i guess its because I have more fish waste in there.

will this continue to be a problem or will more bacteria grow and keep it down?

 

[netcode]

well i did a water change on friday.. and a few hours after the water change i tested the nitrite levels again. it was just about 0.1. Saturday I checked it and Sunday too. The levels were in the 0.1 and 0.3 range. I don't think its on 0.3 yet but its quite hard to tell. The colors aren't that different on the the color chart. Either way it should be 0.0. I can't seem to keep it down. Is the only thing I can do is keep doing water changes?

Ammonia stands at 0.0 and pH is around 7.2 from what i can tell. again i am finding it quite hard to match the color.

 

[blue acara]

ure nitrite bacteria are still growing keep testing the water and if the nitrite goes above 0.3 do a 20% change minimum. sounds like you have some nitrite bacteria so it shouldnt be long before ure nitrite drops to zero.

 

[netcode]

ure nitrite bacteria are still growing keep testing the water and if the nitrite goes above 0.3 do a 20% change minimum. sounds like you have some nitrite bacteria so it shouldnt be long before ure nitrite drops to zero.

thanks.

have you ever used a supplement to help beneficial bacteria to grow?

 

[netcode]

thought i would bump this topic back to the front and ask another question as it pretains to nitrites.


How long approx does it take for the bacteria that breaks down nitrites to establish.

I know that i have bacteria that is breaking down my ammonia into nitrites as my ammonia readings are always 0.

 

[Tolak]

HTH!

 

[netcode]

nice chart. thank you.


its been 36 days since i had my filter running and tank filled. nitrites haven't seem to settle. hopefully in the next few days it will begin to drop.