Nitrites Too High

J

-Jennie-

AC Members
Dec 29, 2006
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Hey everyone, My tank has been up and running for just over a month now, and I have been testing the water and up until 2 days ago my water has been just fine. I had switched from a cheap water conditioner to aquasafe but found out that the bioextract from the aquasafe might have been my problem (and it didnt help that I was using test strips intead of the liqiud testing) So I did a 25% water change, switched to AmQuel+ and NovAqua+ and I got myself a good mastery Test kit. I let the tank run for about 4-5 hours, tested it just to see how it was comming along and these were my readings:

pH = 7.2
Ammonia = 0 ppm
Nitrate = 20 ppm
Nitrite = 1 ppm
Chlorine = 0

Everything is okay BUT the Nitrite...I have recently read that Amquel may give false reading with liquid ammonia tests, but it still says its zero even with my test strips, so I dont think I'm getting a false reading with that) Anyways, to lower the Nitrites should I do 25% water changes everyday until it starts to lower? On the Nitrite test it says if my nitrite is too high I should try using Aqarium Pharmaceuticals Nitra-Zorb, or Aqarium Pharmaceuticals STRESS ZYME to help speed the development of the biological filter, or I can use Nitra-Zorb.

What do you think I should do?

I have a 2.5 gal tank and I have one Apple Snail in tank...So Im hoping to fix this ASAP!!! :eek:

I will test the water again later and I'll post the readings.
 
Hi Jennie, don't panick! A few questions: you only have a applesnail in your tank? Do you have any plants in it (because your nitrate is 20, which suggests you have plants to absorb the nitrIte and make nitrAte)? A filter?
Your Nitrite should indeed be zero, but you can easely bring it down with just waterchanges, no need to put in all those chemicals
 
Yes all I have is one apple snail. I don't have any plants, but I do have a filter.
 
Are you planning to get some fish or shrimp in your tank? Or more apple snails?
 
Deddo said:
Hi Jennie, don't panick! A few questions: you only have a applesnail in your tank? Do you have any plants in it (because your nitrate is 20, which suggests you have plants to absorb the nitrIte and make nitrAte)? A filter?
Your Nitrite should indeed be zero, but you can easely bring it down with just waterchanges, no need to put in all those chemicals
Click to expand...

Do you have any plants in it (because your nitrate is 20, which suggests you have plants to absorb the nitrIte and make nitrAte
Click to expand...


Im not sure if I understand this statement correctly. Are you saying that plants will absorb nitrite and make nitrate? If so that is not right. Live plants will not make nitrate, they use nitrate. Live plants also help with the cycle.

Jennie, Your tank possibly is not fully cycled, however is getting there. It usually takes about 6 weeks to completely cycle. As deddo said, just do water changes, dont add any chemicals to the tank, they are not needed. For only an apple snail in a 2.5 g tank, your nitrates are up there. Do you have nitrates in your tap, for that matter you could possibly have nitrites and or ammonia in your tap. Test your tap water the same as you would your tank water and see what you have, this could be another reason as to why you have the readings on your tank as you do. If your tap doesnt have nitrates, or has minimul ones..my guess is that you may be overfeeding your snail, or not changing out water often enough..

Adding a fast growing plant such as watersprite in with your snail will keep your nitrates down, however will not take away the need for regular water changes..

Blue
 
Blueiz said:
Im not sure if I understand this statement correctly. Are you saying that plants will absorb nitrite and make nitrate? If so that is not right. Live plants will not make nitrate, they use nitrate. Live plants also help with the cycle.

Jennie, Your tank possibly is not fully cycled, however is getting there. It usually takes about 6 weeks to completely cycle. As deddo said, just do water changes, dont add any chemicals to the tank, they are not needed. For only an apple snail in a 2.5 g tank, your nitrates are up there. Do you have nitrates in your tap, for that matter you could possibly have nitrites and or ammonia in your tap. Test your tap water the same as you would your tank water and see what you have, this could be another reason as to why you have the readings on your tank as you do. If your tap doesnt have nitrates, or has minimul ones..my guess is that you may be overfeeding your snail, or not changing out water often enough..

Adding a fast growing plant such as watersprite in with your snail will keep your nitrates down, however will not take away the need for regular water changes..

Blue
Click to expand...

Blueiz, you are so right about the nitrite and nitrate, I mistyped. It is true the plants USE the nitrate as a nutrient. Sorry Jennie if this confused you!

But I totally agree with Blueiz to put a fastgrowing plant in and change your water. :)
 
Blueiz is correct when he says that plants use Nitrate. Most plant tank enthusiasts actually add nitrate to keep it somewhere between 10 - 20. If keeping fish in the tank it becomes a delicate balance because as you know fish don't really take to nitrates. Have to give the plants enough but not too much for the fish.
 
Alrighty! I tested the water again today and here are the readings:

ph = 7.0
Ammonia = 0 ppm
Nirate = 10 ppm
Nitrite = 0.50 ppm
Chlorine = 0

So its looking a bit better today :) The Nitrate is still high, but should leave everything as it is and tommorrow test it again or should I do a 25% water change?

I should still continue to use the AmQuel+ (removes Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, Chlorine & Chloramines) and NovAqua+ (water conditioner) when I do my regular water changes right?

Once the tank is fully cycled I was hoping to maybe add one more snail or add a small fish. I don't want put to many in the tank since its only a 2.5 gal.

If I put a plant in the tank, will I have add (to the water) or do anything speacial to the tank to keep the plant alive?

One more question! Haha I baught these new rocks for the tank Premium Aquarium Gravel and it says it will not affect the water'c chemistry, nor harm any aquatic life (fish, invertebrates or plants). I was told to wait until the water problem is fixed and THEN add the rocks. But I was wondering, when the water is back to normal, instead of just putting then in should I let the tank run fo ra few days or a week, just in case, and then add the gravel in? Or would it be fine either way?

Ill test the tap water and post the readings soon.
 
-Jennie- said:
So its looking a bit better today :) The Nitrate is still high, but should leave everything as it is and tommorrow test it again or should I do a 25% water change?

I should still continue to use the AmQuel+ (removes Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, Chlorine & Chloramines) and NovAqua+ (water conditioner) when I do my regular water changes right?

If I put a plant in the tank, will I have add (to the water) or do anything speacial to the tank to keep the plant alive?
Click to expand...

under 10 ppm for nitrate is fine. i would do another water change since your showing .50 nitrites.

yes you should keep using AmQuel. i dont think you need to use both. you just need the one to remove the chlorine or chloramines. even though it says it removes ammonia nitrites and nitrates it doesnt the only thing that can remove them is bacteria or water changes.

you wont have to add anything to the water but you might have to get a new light depending on whats over it now.
 
Last edited:
Yeah its just the Nitrite that is the problem...I'll do another water change and test it again later.

The lighting that I have right now is two of the Marina® Micro LED Lights, Light Set, & Hub.
 
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