Help Nitrites Too High?

[dcallen]

Hello everyone,

I just recently added 3 fish to my 70 gallon mostly Peacock tank. I just did about a 30-35% water change and then tested my water and the nitrites are at 0.8 ML. They haven't ever been this high in fact they are usually at 0.3 ML or 0. I did another ten gallon water change which equates to about a 50% water change I did another test and they are still at the same levels. Does it take awhile to notice a change and is there anything else I can do to lower them? I feed small sinking pellets twice daily, is this overfeeding? I have a total of 8 fish in the tank. Any help would be much appreciated.

[peifc]

Yes, it does take a while for it to go back down. Just do daily water change (25% to 50%). Add a bit of aquarium salt each time after water change. Aquarium salt can help the fish breath better and easier if the tank has high nitrite (read it some where on the web).

[dcallen]

Thanks Peifc. I do add a Cichlid salt with each water change. Should I add some sea salt in addition to the Cichlid salt? And when you say a bit how much do you recommend for a 70 gallon tank? Would you recommend, say 1/2 a teaspoon for each 10 gallons of water?



Thanks again,

[peifc]

I don't know how big of a difference between Aquarium Salt (for freshwater fish) and cichlid salt. Since your nitrite is that high...I'll suggest a teaspoon per 10 gallons if you also have put in cichlid salt.

My 72g tank had a nitrite peak last time. My cichlids (CA and SA cichlids) were on the top of the tank breathing heavily. I ran out of aquarium salt during that time. I used table salt (most people would not recommend). I put in only 1/4 teaspoon into the tank. I gave only about 15 mins...the fish were back to normal (even though not very active, but they breath better). I just kept on doing water change daily until the nitrite went back down to 0.

Maybe some other people will have other suggestion. This is only through my experience.

[dcallen]

Peifc,

Ok, thanks a lot. I haven't really noticed them breathing heavily yet, but I will add some sea salt just in case. I don't think it will hurt as long as I don't add too much.



Thanks again,

[SayersWeb]

I've never even tested for nitrites!! Is there a good test kit for this? What other tests should be done to cichlid tanks on a regular basis? Currently I only test PH, temp, and ammonia.

[peifc]

Yes, there is test kid for nitrite. It is best to do testing weekly, ph, nitrite, and ammonia.

[JSchmidt]

Originally posted by dcallen
Hello everyone,

I just recently added 3 fish to my 70 gallon mostly Peacock tank. I just did about a 30-35% water change and then tested my water and the nitrites are at 0.8 ML. They haven't ever been this high in fact they are usually at 0.3 ML or 0.

Feeding once a day should be plenty, with one day set aside each week as a fasting day.

Regardless of feeding schedule, though, you should NEVER detect nitrites in a cycled tank, unless you have just added fish. You say they "are usually at .3 ML or 0." If nitrites are ever above zero in a cycled tank, you have insufficient biofiltration. Seeing a spike in a tank with newly added fish is normal, seeing nitrites in a supposedly stable tank is not.

Water changes should be done until nitrites are below .5 ppm. If you have suspicions that your nitrite test may be registering incorrectly, test a sample of distilled water. It should show zero, of course.

Hope this helps,
Jim

[dcallen]

Thanks guys,

Jim, When I say 0.3 Mg/L or lower I really mean that's what the test card shows, which is really at 0 as far as I can tell. The three fish were just recently added which would seem to account for the spike in nitrites as you stated. I did do an extra 10 gallon change last night after the initial water change. I just tested the water again this evening and the nitrites are back down to 0, the fish are eating, and breathing normally. Thanks for everyones posts I really appreciate all of them.

[Tightdog1]

is it a very established tank?

if so the tank just needs to build more nitrite killiings bacteria, it will go down with time, the only bacteria grow is when there is a food source, and there is and they will grow.

[dcallen]

Tightdog1,

Thanks, I have had the tank setup since May of this year, so I would say it's fairly established.

[JSchmidt]

I'd keep testing for several days, but I agree with you, sounds like you're out of the woods.

Good luck,
Jim