Water change not effecting nitrite level

S

sdbarker

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Jul 6, 2007
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Yay being a newbie (glances at post count of "1"). So, I jumped the gun on adding fish unfortunately. I thought my cycle had completed quickly, but it turns out that it hadn't. I made it through the Ammonia phase fine, but now I'm experiencing high nitrite levels (which I've lost a few fish to), and water changes have no effect. I've fortunately now been able to keep it under control using Amquel+. I have a 55g freshwater Mbuna tank which presently has two Auratus, a Jonni, an S. Multipunctatus, and two common plecos. If I let skip the Amquel, the nitrites quickly skyrocket to dangerous levels. After a water change, there's NO effect on the tested level. Using Amquel+, it will drop to zero, but within a day or two, it's back up to 0.25 or so, and continues to climb.

I've been doing water changes daily on an alternating ~50% and ~20% schedule, and adding Amquel+ when nitrites hit about .50 or so. This has been going on for about 2 weeks or so.

All of that being said, my question is:

Any suggestions on keeping the nitrites down? Is using Amquel+ an o.k. way to go? From my research, using it and doing such large and frequent water changes won't affect the cycle or the beneficial bacteria, though I'm not sure why. Is that information correct? I'm hoping to have this under control in the next 2.5 weeks, since my LFS is having an anniversary sale and all freshwater species are 50% off. :)

Thanks for your help.

-Scott
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amquel is fine for now, its doing the job

and its a combination of amquel doing its job, as well as the WCs.

im pretty sure that although amquel detoxifies ammo and nitrite, it doesnt get rid of it... and thats why it still shows up on your tests.

the only thing that actually gets rid of the nitrite, besides as established cycle, is a water change. so just keep up with the WCs and it shouldnt be much longer before the cycles through.


also, if you had any aquarium salt, you could dose with the directed ammount (im not sure what it is, but its on the box) and that will bond to the nitrite and make it non toxic.
 
This is quoted from their website...

"AmQuel+ removes/detoxifies all of the kinds of toxic nitrogen compounds in the water. AmQuel+ removes/detoxifies all forms of ammonia/ammonium/nitrites/nitrates from the water, including ammonia in chloramines"


 
Check (test) the water you're putting into your tank. You could be adding Nitrites unknowingly.

I was doing water changes recently, and wondering why my Ammonia levels didn't go down. In fact, as soon as my cycle was complete I saw my levels go up :confused:.

I tested my tap water (which I always add de-chlorinator to), and it had surprisingly high levels of Ammonia in it.... which aside from making me mad (I drink a lot of water), was hurting the fish and adding Ammonia to the mix.
 
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Your experiencing normal effects of a fishy cycle, as you can tell its a pain, keep up on the wc's and conditioning, hopefully you wont loose any more fish...........:)
 
vasmir said:
Check (test) the water you're putting into your tank. You could be adding Nitrites unknowingly.

I was doing water changes recently, and wondering why my Ammonia levels didn't go down. In fact, as soon as my cycle was complete I saw my levels go up :confused:.

I tested my tap water (which I always add de-chlorinator to), and it had surprisingly high levels of Ammonia in it.... which aside from pissing me off (I drink a lot of water), was hurting the fish and adding Ammonia to the mix.
Click to expand...


did u test directly from the tap or after you dechlorinated? sometimes the breakdown of chloromines produces ammonia i believe.. but a good dechlorinator will detoxify that as well, thats why most have that feature.
 
jpappy789 said:
That's why I got my first bottle of prime yesterday...I can't say I've been more excited about a dechlorinator..It's sad...pity me...
Click to expand...

:thm:
 
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