temperature and nitrite problems! help!!!

[KrazyKat]

hi
i posted this in another thread but no one answered and i need help!!

i've just set up a 5 gallon with 1 betta in it however i've got a few new problems!!!

i cycled my tank fishlessly but i think i did it wrong cos i tested my water today and ammonia was 0, nitrites were 0.5, and nitrates were 0.5 as well. what level does nitrite become harmful? should i water change or leave it so more bacteria breed? have i been over feeding? i gave him a little corner of a block of frozen bloodworms the first night and since then 3 little betta floating pellets(like the pack says) in the morning and night (its only been a day!!! why did they go so high???)

my second problem is that i'm in sydney and we've been having some hot weather. my house gets very hot and even with the air con on the tank temp has been rising from 26 degrees celcius to 31 degrees during the day. tomorrow i go back to work and the house won't be air conditioned. what can i do to keep the temp down?

[rainstorm]

I'm a bit confused...0.5 what? ppm? If so, your fine. Nitrite of less than 1.6ppm is recommened for freshwater. And Nitrate of less than 40 ppm.
As far as the high water temp, I have theis problem sometimes, I just put in a few ice cubes-though some may disagree with this, it has worked for me. You can also blow a fan across the water, but make sure it's clean so that you're not blowing dust inot the tank. To give you an idea-I put about 10 ice cubes at a time into my 30 gallon tank.

[Hannys_Papa]

Yes do a waterchange - at least 50% and try to keep the nitrites as low as possible- they are highly toxic - even at 0.5 ppm fish can die.

If you have - use some prime as waterconditioner - it helps detoxify nitrites.

Changing water and lowering nitrites will NOT stall the bacteria growth - so leaving nitrites in the tank in hope to grow bacteria faster is the worst thing you can do.

I'd also cut back on the feeding a little. I feed my betta about 3-4 pellets a day (when its "pellet day" - i alternate pellets with other foods) and he is not starving. ;)

[IceH2O]

I'm a bit confused...0.5 what? ppm? If so, your fine. Nitrite of less than 1.6ppm is recommened for freshwater. And Nitrate of less than 40 ppm.



Nitrite of 1.6 ppm will kill a fish, it should read 0. Where did you read 1.6 is recommended?

Nitrates up to 40 ppm are acceptable but most people including myself try to keep it 20 ppm and under.

[rainstorm]

It says LESS THAN 1.6 is recommended. And I read that in my Laborett Water Testing Kit.

[Roan Art]

It says LESS THAN 1.6 is recommended. And I read that in my Laborett Water Testing Kit.
Less than 1.6? Are they nuts? Anything over .25 can kill some sensitive fish and others will develop fin rot and fungus at that level. Sounds to me like that kit's instructions were either written by a marketing specialist who never kept fish in their life or the kit does not accurately measure nitrites.

I'd go with the latter of the two. 1.6 is rediculous.

Roan

[Bosemani Fan]

You tank was not done cycling if you have 0.5ppm Nitrite, after you get your ammonia to zero, you contiue adding ammonia and checking Nitrites, When Nitrites reach 0ppm, Then your done cycling. Nitrite is very toxic to fish and should be 0ppm at all times! 0.5ppm unexceptable and will cause problems with fish, If not now, in the long run! As Iceh2o said, an established tank should read Ammonia - 0, Nitrite - 0, Nitrate - <40

[Roan Art]

KrazyKat,

You'll be fine. It's just a little burp in the system. The ammonia would have peaked as well, but obviously very fast and the bacteria are doing their job and have already turned it into nitrites.

Do as Hannys_Papa advises. Waterchanges. Get the nitrites down to 0 if you can. The nitrate reading is good because it's telling us that the cycle has just been overwhelmed a bit. No nitrates would be a cause for alarm.

Again, water change, get then nitrites down to 0 and keep an eye on the water with tests.

Roan

[KrazyKat]

thanks guys

i've been doing a few of little 20% water changes while waiting for a reply. i'm just testing it now after my latest water change. nuts its still 0.25. i'll get it down to 0 by tonight. i don't want to shock the little guy. i'll cut down feeding. what else can i feed him besides blood worms and betta pellets? how would i prepare it?

thanks again :D

[Roan Art]

You won't shock him. Do a 50% water change and get the nitrites down.

Many of us do 50% changes all the time. I do them twice a week on my rainbowfish tanks. The key is to keep your aquarium water as close to the same chemistry as your tap water. Easy to do with water changes of that size and lots of fresh water is good for your fish.

Food: frozen brine shrimp is a favorite. I feed shrimp and worms two days a week -- separate days, of course. Freeze dried tubifex is good. My fish aren't as crazy about that stuff. So long as it's a varied diet, he'll do fine.

Sounds like you are on the road to being an A+ fishkeeper :)

Roan

[Hannys_Papa]

...i don't want to shock the little guy....

Dont mean to repeat what Roan said but aslong as you already did some waterchanges - and the temperature of the water you use is the same as in the tank (and its treated) then you wont do him any harm.

Every now and then i do 2x50% one after another - because when i really vac my gravel the 50% are gone and i am not done yet - so i fill back up and finish my gravel vac.

If anything - it really seems to excite my betta. Maybe its because of all the clean water - or the fact that there is always a bit or tank rearranging going on which means he can "explore" whats different. ;) It doesnt hurt though....