how do i get my nitrite down?? fast

[Paroon Shark]

i came home to a dead cichlid. i tested and my nitrite is up. i think over .3......i changed 25% water and it is still up.. what can i do so my other 2 cichlids and pleco dont die too(assuming it died from high nitrite).
thank you

[kveeti]

Keep doing water changes, in succession if needed. I’ve read that adding salt will help alleviate the toxicity of nitrite in the blood. I’m not sure about the quantity, though, sorry.

[OrionGirl]

1 tsp NaCl per gallon--dissolve a fraction of the total in a quart jar and pour in, repeating every 15-20 minutes as needed to get the full amount in there. Or, keep doing water changes--you can do up to 50%, back to back, as long as your source water matches your tank water pretty closely in terms of pH and hardness.

[Paroon Shark]

whats NACl?

[mcps95]

NaCl = Sodium Chloride = table salt

[daveedka]

Just an additional note, KCl (nu-salt, pottasium chloride) will also do the trick. the CL is what counteracts the nitrites. I would guess that CaCl2 (calcium chloride, Driveway "heat" ice melter) would do the same, but haven't tested it or heard of it's effectiveness. I have seen information that suggfests that 1/4 tsp per gallon is actually enough, but I would go with the 1 tsp per gallon reccomended and test theories after the fish are safe.
Dave