Spiking Nitrites

[shmoe]

I had a high nitrite problem and recently did a 50% water change. The next day, nitrite levels were getting close to normal and all was well. I was afraid that the water change may have gotten rid of important elements and CO2 for my live plants...so I added a plant fertilzer tablet that I have been using for a frew months, that adds electrolytes, CO2, etc... The next day I did another nitrite test and the level has spiked again. Is there anyway to prevent this high level? I'm only using half the recommended dosage.

Thanks.

 

[wetwetwet]

Hi shmoe,

just wondering how long the tanks beeen set up and if its cycled.... and what your maintenance/waterchange schedule is like ??

High nitrites are a sign of problems in a cycled tank and filter working properly... - even low levels are toxic to fish ....

 

[shmoe]

Thanks for responding!

The tank (10 gal) is relatively new. It's been almost 3 months. I've had my fish (6 gold barb, 2 spotted cory, 1 otto) for over a month now and they are all doing fine, until I noticed one barb scratching his fins, which became red. That gave me the alarm and I retested the water.

I had to get new plants recently, because my first batch stripped away and just kind of disintegrated. The new batch are doing fine and are hardy. I just don't want those plants to end up like the others. So i use the fertilizer tablets.

All levels tested fine at first. There was a slight rise in ammonia when I put the new plants in...but now ammonia is down to 0 or normal levels now. Could that be the cause for the nitrite spike? I've checked many of the stores around me and they don't have any nitrite absorbing products. So I'm left doing water changes. Before I would do them every week, about 30%.

When I had the high spike in nitrite, I changed the water and everything seemed to be getting back to normal. Then I got afraid that the plants would suffer, so I added half a dose of fertilizer, and now the nitrites are back up. I've done another 30% change today.

Sorry for the 'essay' but I appreciate you responding.

 

[Captain]

What kind of fertilizer are you using? Ferts for the fish tank should only
add nitrate not ammonia or nitrite. If you are getting a nitrite spike (and you are using a
fish tank friendly fert) then I would not be concerned with the fertilizer.

Another thing to look for is dead or dying leaves. Sometimes rotting plant matter will
cause your readings to spike.

 

[wetwetwet]

Yep as captain says remove anything dead or decaying as this will put extra load on the biological filter.

From what you've said though have you been doing regular water changes since the tank was set up?

When I had the high spike in nitrite, I changed the water and everything seemed to be getting back to normal

How much water.?

Large water changes when a tank is cycling can drastically increase the time it takes and I think it might be possible that this could be the case. Ammonia and nitrite spikes are part of the cycling process....

I use a product called NitraZorb because I have high nitrAte prooblems (out the tap at 60ppm) - though I think its also used for controlling nitrItes...

 

[shmoe]

I'm using a product from Jungle, I think that's the company. They are fizzing tablets. I'm trying to find the CO2 tablets they make, but stores around here only carry this one product from them. Los Angeles for some reason isn't very big on fish and fish products. I cannot find nitrite absorbing products...though I know they are made.

I usually do weekly water changes. The plants I have right now are fine, because I haven't seen dead plant matter or floating leaves. I usually suck out the dead matter, which usually collects at the filter's intake, when I do a water change, but as of now, there is no decay so maybe things are getting better.

I've also bought a timer to help give the plants more light during the day, which seems to be working fine.

Anyway, I think I'll change fertilizers. Keeping things alive is so difficult!