nitrite & nitrate levels high

B

Bryanfykes

AC Members
Nov 6, 2004
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Fruitland, MD
i just got my first test kit. i tested my levels of nitrite and nitrate and they seem really high, according to the test strips not dangerous, but "stressful".

Please to be telling me how to lower these levels....

Thanks, Bryan
 
20 to 50% water changes twice a week will do it. If you have fish in there you might want to add salt. It helps the fish deal with high nitriItes. The nitrates are not as dangerous, and the water changes will help alot.

If you have a little pleco or corys, only add the salt at HALF strength.
The recipe is 1 tablespoon per gallon of tank water.

Obviously half would be 1 teaspoon per gallon.
 
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how much and what kind of salt? i've also noticed that my black molly has started exhibiting signs of ich (twitchy fins and very small white spots) this tank was started 2 weeks ago (and like a bonehead i didnt do a cycle, i just put my little guys in after 24 hrs, i had WAY too many fish in a 10 gal. a freind was frustrated with caring for her tank and was going to off her fish. i gave them asylum. i went up to a 30 gal to hold em all) anyway, i have 2 hanging external filters (the 10 gal tank filter and a new one for a 30-55 gal). jusy thought the extra info might help.

Bryan
 
oh yeah, and the water is getting cloudy. my fish are as follows:

4 neon tetras
4 glow light tetras
1 blue gourami
1 black molly
1 white cloud
1 leopard danio
2 giant danios
1 pl*co (6 inches long)
1 albino cory cat
2 glass shrimp
 
Please read!!!!!!!!

I just realized I made a big mistake: !!!!! The recipe is 1 level tablespoon per 5 gallons of water. So, 1 level teaspoon per gallon if you have little guys or plecos.

I'd go with the teaspoon per gallon seeing what you have in there. I hope I'm not too late.
 
Ya I'd do the water change first so as not to dilute the salt yes.

I'd do more frequent water changes, controlled like 50% of the water, then add a half of your already half dose, (3 teaspoons in your case) if the nitrites remain high in the next 3 days.
 
Swimfins said:
20 to 50% water changes twice a week will do it. If you have fish in there you might want to add salt. It helps the fish deal with high nitriItes. The nitrates are not as dangerous, and the water changes will help alot.

If you have a little pleco or corys, only add the salt at HALF strength.
The recipe is 1 tablespoon per gallon of tank water.

Obviously half would be 1 teaspoon per gallon.
Click to expand...

1 TABLEspoon is 3 TEAspoons so half would be 1.5 TEAspoons ;)
 
Bryanfykes said:
i should add this salt after the h2o change, right? im going to R&R 5 gals from my 30 gal.

Bryan
Click to expand...

table salt will work or aquarium salt.

What is R&R 5 gals from my 30???

change water check nitrites then add salt if they are still high. Now if you want to treat for ich slowly raise temp to 86 and continue with salt for a week after the last sign of ich. Keep doing water changes. vaccum gravel with every water change.
 
As far as my cooking lessons go, 2 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon. But I'm not much of a cook.


Oh sorry I just saw the thing about the molly with ich. Sorry, I don't know about treating ich. (haven't seen ich yet,,,knock on wood)

Try N8dogg's suggestion, firstly. As far as ich goes, I dunno.

Some people use the ich rid preparations. But these things worry me.

Check out the article corner.
 
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