Need Help with High Nitrite Levels

J

jlovelace1

Registered Member
Feb 24, 2006
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Hello, Let me first say, THANK GOD I FOUND THIS WEBSITE! From this point foward I promise to research everything about aquariums.

I have had my tank with fish in it for about two months. Two weeks ago I noticed that my violet goby was missing and assumed he had found a good hiding place for the daytime. Needless to say he swam inside a rock and I believe he couldn't get out and died. Since this unfortunate event my Nitrite levels have been 10 or above.

Of course like every other idiot I strolled into the LFS and begged them to help me. And then of course a young boy sold me some chemical to put into my water, which had absolutely no affect at all.

Since then I have done two 25% water changes and have been doing 10% water changes daily. The Nitrites haven't changed at all and I am starting to get worried.

As a newbie, I have no clue what to do and would appreciate any help.

I have not changed the filter and I placed an extra charcol pouch in the filter.
All of my other water tests are fine.
 
I'd add 1 teaspoon of salt per Gallon to reduce Nitrite toxicity. Also increase waterchange volume to 50% every 12 hours replacing salt as it is taken out by waterchanges until Nitrites fall down to below 0.25. A high Nitrite level like that is highly poisonous and I won't be surprised if you see some fish loss. Good luck with your tankk.
 
have you cleaned out the tank? like pulled out all the decor to look for a body? that would be a start. after that, you should be doing much bigger water changes than 10%. more like 30-50% daily until you get things under control. start with 25% and up it to 50% over a few days.
 
Welcome to AC!

Yes, you need to get those nitrites down to 0 as soon as possible. As rrkss indicated, 50% water changes spaced 12 hours a part is the best remedy for this problem.

I don't know how long the body was in the tank, but pieces of decayed flesh could be lodged anywhere in your tank and spiking the nitrites on you.

Rinse all your decorations, driftwood, what-have-you in old tank water. Don't scrub, just brush them lightly with your fingers. Although bacteria prefers to colonize in your filter, some *will* have settled on other parts of your tank. With a nitrite spike, you need to excercise caution that you don't remove any good guys.

It's a good idea for you to make sure you clean the gravel thoroughly. If you have never cleaned the gravel before, start slowly. Use a syphon and just go over the top of the gravel. Don't stir the gravel up and don't plung the syphon into the gravel. Create a bit of a current by gently swirling the end of the syphon in the water and stir up the surface guck. Mostl likely any pieces of flesh will be stuck or sitting on the surface of the gravel.

Once you've done this to the gravel bed twice over the course of your water changes, pick a ¼ of the tank and start doing a deep clean. ONLY do ¼ of the tank at a time. Plunge the syphon deep into the gravel and vacuum up all the garbage down there. Add another new ¼ of the gravel each time you do a water change.

Keep an eye on your nitrate levels. If they go up a lot between cleanings, you are doing too much.

Also clean your filter, but only use old tank water. Dump out the water in the filter, take the filter pads, whatever, and swish them in the old tank water. If there is slimey mucky stuff (mulm), remove that carefully with your fingers. Do not scrub, you don't want to remove good bacteria, but if there is an excess of mulm in your filter it can inhibit good nitrite eater growth.

Hope that helps,
Roan
 
Thanks

Thank you to everyone who replied.

I will begin doing the 50% water changes today. I love my fish and really would like them to be happy and healthy little guys. They all have such personality!

Julie
 
Also, test the water you are adding for nitrites. I was having trouble getting the nitrites down in my first tank; it turned out my water changes weren't helping because my tapwater has nitrites.

Good luck!
 
Nitrites in TO tap water? I'd be hollaring my head off at that. Anyone else in TO or TO area have nitrites in their tap?

Last time I was at the EPA site, I *think* I read that nitrites in the US tap water are a big no-no. Don't quote me on that though. If you do find nitrites, check the EPA site for allowable amounts.

Roan
 
mixed feelings on this but i would use amquel plus when i did waterchanges, it removes 1.2ppm of ammonia, 2 ppm of nitrite, and 13 ppm of nitrate as well as detoxify all chlorine or chloramines. good luck
 
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