New tank problems...nitrites, pH, cloudiness!!!

FireBallKY

FireBallKY

AC Members
Feb 17, 2005
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Lexington, KY USA
I hope I've put this in the right category...

My 55gal has been up and running for 2 weeks now. As I've admitted in a previous thread, I introduced too many fish too soon. After taking the 1st nitrite reading I have removed some of the fish into another tank. Currently the 55gal has 7 Zebra Danios and 9 Brilliant Rasboras.

2 days ago I did a 15gal water change and the water was sparkling clear up to yesterday around 6pm. When I got home around 11pm the tank was extremely cloudy. This morning I did another test and the pH was around 6.8 and the nitrites were between 3-4. :rant: I immediately did a 50% water change and I'm just sitting on pins and needles to give the tank time to filter out. As I was draining the water, I also vacuumed over the gravel and it was totally nasty with every bucket. I have some theories but I'm not too sure what the problem is...

Theory #1:
I got the tank for free and there was still about 2 inches of dirty gravel with some water in it. Maybe I should have emptied and washed the gravel before setting the tank up? I was taking the advice of someone that by using this gravel, it would speed up the cycle process.

Theory #2:
I still have too many fish in the tank.

Theory #3:
My filtration is inadequate. (undergravel filiter with 2 lift tubes, a penguin 160 filter and a penguin 550 power head on the opposite end)

Theory #4:
A combination of theories 1-3.

Also,
one of my Danios is orange???? It is the only one like that and the color is throughout. It seems healthy and vigorous. Any idea what this is?

Thanks a bunch!!!
 
Continue to do water changes until you can no longer detect nitritites. Nitrite is acutely toxic to your fish, and exposure to it causes methemoglobinemia. Basically, your fish will suffer from anemia b/c the hemoglobin in their blood is transformed into methemoglobin. Increasing the levels of chloride ions in the water will decrease the toxicity of the nitrite as well (adding some salt). It is important to avoid adding too much salt too quickly, and you must reduce the nitrite immediately, so I don't suggest the salt method in your case. Do water changes. Large water changes.

This is why many commercial rearing units also use a "fishless cycle" by adding non-organic ammonia to the water and thus establishing bacterial colonies before the introduction of fish.

Oh, and the use of the old, possibly dirty gravel without even washing it was a big mistake. There's no way to tell what had been growing in it (especially if it remained moist before you got it). Not much that you can do now other than vaccuuming it as you do your frequent water changes to reduce the toxins in the water.

Much luck to you, and keep us posted.
 
I agree, and also about the danio, I had one like that a couple years back, he remained healthy, active and acted the same as all the others. Lived just as long too, so I wouldn't be concerned unless you notice behavioural differences.
 
Do you think a 50% water change every day will suffice or shoud I do it more than once? I could do a water change before work in the morning and again when I get home if need be.

If worse comes to worse, I'm gonna remove all of the decor and thoroughly vacuum the gravel...if that doesn't work, then I'll just start completely over but I WILL NOT give up. :D
 
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OK...so here's what I've done. I got all of my danios and rasboras out of the 55gal and put them in the 20gal for now. Before you all start tearing my head off... I plan on keeping a close eye on the 20gal tank and make sure the levels stay within a safe parameter seeing as how it is much easier to water change the 20gal versus the 55gal.

I completely emptied the 55 out and took out all the gravel and cleaned it. WHEW!!! IT WAS FILTHY!!!! :eek: Anyways, I've got it set back up now and I will add water in it tomorrow and start completely over. Hopefully with all that gunk gone, and I have more insight on the importance of patience, my tank will do better this go 'round. I'll keep you all posted. Thanks for everything.
 
I'm planning on doing the fishless cycle with the amonnia but my ? is how much ammonia do you use each time you add it and should I use something like a measuring spoon like you use for baking or a capful from the lid of the bottle or what? Also, what level of ammonia should I be detecting once it's in the water?

'pre-shate it!! :D
 
You add ammonia a litle at a time (like 1-5mL) until your test kit picks it up at 4-5ppm. Record how much it took to get there and kind of ballpark how much that is per gallon. The, test everyday and if ammonia is less than 4-5ppm, add more again.
 
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