High NitrItes

[Nadine]

I've got a 10 gal that has been up for about 3 weeks. Started with 5 neons, lost one yesterday. Also have an Otocinclus Cat.

Yesterday the tank tested at:

NitrAtes: 20
NitrItes: 3.0
Harness: 150
Alk: 180
pH: 7.8

I did a 25% water change last night, tested tank this morning and NitrItes haven't budged! Still at 3.0. How often can I do partial changes? Should I do more than 25%? Do I need to add any kind of treatment??

Thanks in advance!!
Nadine

 

[Rbishop]

I would do what ever water changes are required to keep ammonia and nitrites at .25 or less.

What kind of a test kit are you using?

 

[Nadine]

I would do what ever water changes are required to keep ammonia and nitrites at .25 or less.

What kind of a test kit are you using?

Thanks for the quick reply! Will try a 50% water change within the hour.

Using a 5 in 1 Quick Dip

 

[Squawkbert]

PWCs often.

Another tip - whoever said you could start out w/ Otos & Neons - never listen to another word that comes outta their mouth because they're as ignorant as they come.

 

[Maxta]

Yup.

Pets at Home told us to start with neons, guess what, outa 6, we lost 4 within half a week. Only two of them remaining.

 

[jm1212]

otos are pretty delicate fish and need good water conditions- the opposite of a fish that can be considered for a fishy cycle.

you really need to do a large water change. test strips are not very reliable, a liquid test kit is much more so.

 

[Nadine]

Ok, just completed about a 60% PWC, nitrites are down to 1.0. Have one neon that had very little red color left and his color is returning.

Going to the store to get a liquid test kit... do I need anything else? Should I vacuum the gravel?

Can I do another PWC tonight? How much?

 

[TKOS]

Vacuuming may help if there is debris in the gravel that is rotting away. It certainly can't hurt. You can do as many PWC's as you need to. The small amount of stress that a PWC may cause to fish is far less of a concern then the permanent damage caused by high nitrites.

For th next while you may need to do daily changes. Once things are back down under 0.25ppm nitite then it should not be hard to maintain that level with far fewer PWC's.

 

[Nadine]

Update:

Went and got a Master Test Kit (liquid) and retested...
Ammonia: 2.0
Nitrates: 5.0
Nitrites: 1.0
pH: 8.1

I also picked up some Prime while I was there... was using Stress Coat.

Planning another hefty PWC this evening using the Prime. Will probably vac tomorrow.

Am I doing ok so far??

 

[Nadine]

Did a 50% PWC at 9:00 pm, tested at 9:45 pm

Amonia: .25
Nitrates: 5.0
Nitrites: 0 :bday:
Ph: 7.9
Temp: 80