Lowering nitrites

Darracuda

Darracuda

AC Members
Sep 17, 2005
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King Kong's left nut, no wait... what was the ques
I just changed the water in my freshwater tank a few days ago and the nitrite levels are .5

Is there any way to lower the nitrite levels besides changing the water out? Any drops or powders/solutions I can add to remove it?

Thanks
 
sumthin fishy said:
How long has the tank been running? What are the other levels (amonia, nitrAtes)? NitrItes should be lowered by your bacteria in the tank.
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Since the complete water change, the tank has been running about 4-5 days I think. The Amonia level was 0 last I checked but may be slightly higher from the fish waste now.

I beleive the PH was exactly 7.

I'll look in my test kit, it may only provide PH, Amonia, and Nitrite, I'm not sure if there is a Nitrate test. I'm going to run all the tests again right now and post the results.

thanks
 
I mean how long has the tank been up and running since you started. Ammonia breaks down into nitrItes, then NitrItes break down to NitrAtes. I don't think .5 is all that high (edit)if you are still cycling. But it should come down to arround 0 once the cycle is complete. If you have only had it for a few days your cycle is not comlete yet. You should get that nitrAte test. If there are no nitrAtes, you deffinatly are not cycled. But again, nitrItes will be removed from the water by the bacteria in the water.
 
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The only thing I know of is a product called nitri-zorb. However, if I remember correctly it was pretty expensive and may interfere with the cycle, I'm not really sure. Water changes are really the best way to go, your fish will thank you :D
 
Nitrites can interfer with fishy respiration. You don't want that level to get too high or your fish will be standing in corners, quivering and giving you very dirty looks because they can't breath. Water changes are the best way to handle the nitrites until your tank is properly cycled. Which, the fact that you have nitrites tells me that either the tank is new or you messed up your cycle somehow.

Stay away from chemicals. They'll only delay what needs to happen. Water change, water change for now.
 
Stay away from chemicals.
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They almost always cause more problems than fix them!! Also, mduros, be careful on the terminology!! Amonia and nitrITES are harmful to fish, nitRATES are not very harmful in and of themselves
 
Hi Darracuda

You're half way through the cycle.. and this is always the toughest bit. It took ages for me to get the second batch of bacteria going - always treading the fine line between having enough nitrite to actually START the bacterial growth and not enough to harm the fish.

Keep at it. Keep doing water changes and as everyone says - don't cheat it with chemicals. Ultimately you want a self sustaining tank that you don't have to spend £££££s on to keep balanced.

Good luck with it by the way - hope you enjoy your fish!
R
 
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