Nitrate count high. Constant water changes dont help....what now?

[itswoodie]

Hello again,

Okay. I posted a day or two ago with some water ratings for my fish'd 20gal. I especially commented on my nitrite levels, which were 5.0+.
I did another nitrite test a little while ago, and it's yet again, 5.0+.


It was about 24 hours since my last water change, so I did about 50-60% this time. A few minutes after the change, I did another nitrite test. ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME AS BEFORE
It might be a shade lighter, but it's still at least 4.0.


Now I'm begining to wonder what the heck I could be doing wrong. Maybe it's overfeeding? But my ammonia levels are fine!



Anyone have any other ideas as to the cause of this? What should I do to help bring it back down?? I was told anything over 2.0 is stressful for the fish.

As some of you may know, I'm not a huge fan of using chemicals, but I'm getting to my wits end...
Are there any chemicals that can help lower the nitrite levels? Any brand suggestions?


Once again, thanks for the info. Much appreciated.


-wood

 

[chefkeith]

Either your tank isn't fully cycled yet or you have high chlorine/chloramines levels in you tap water, which will result in high nitrate readings.

If you use a water conditioner like Amquel or Prime for your tap water, it will change the chlorine/chloramines in a non-toxic form of Ammonia. If your tank is cycled, that non-toxic form of Ammonia is converted into Nitrite, then the nitrite is converted to Nitrate. Get a chlorine/chloramine test kit to see just how high your chlorine/chloramine levels are.

If your Chlorine/Chloramine levels are high you might need need to use a filter that will remove the chlorine/chloramines from your tap water.

 

[ArkyLady]

You can do back to back 50-80% water changes if necessary to get those levels down. Really anything above .50ppm nitrItes is stressful to your fish. Above 2.0ppm is toxic, not just stressful.

 

[OrionGirl]

Are we talking about nitrIte, or nitrAte? Have you had the results confirmed by another test kit?

 

[itswoodie]

Are we talking about nitrIte, or nitrAte? Have you had the results confirmed by another test kit?

I'm referring to nitrIte. Why would I need another test kit? I bought the most expensive one available..

Either your tank isn't fully cycled yet or you have high chlorine/chloramines levels in you tap water, which will result in high nitrate readings.

If you use a water conditioner like Amquel or Prime for your tap water, it will change the chlorine/chloramines in a non-toxic form of Ammonia. If your tank is cycled, that non-toxic form of Ammonia is converted into Nitrite, then the nitrite is converted to Nitrate. Get a chlorine/chloramine test kit to see just how high your chlorine/chloramine levels are.

If your Chlorine/Chloramine levels are high you might need need to use a filter that will remove the chlorine/chloramines from your tap water.

First, My tank is 2-3 weeks into the cycling process. (not fishless).


I do use a dechlorinator on my water before each water change. I am located in the middle of Philadelphia, so I'm sure the chlorine levels are quite high.



Are there any chemicals I can use to help keep my nitrite level's in check while I complete the cycling process? ?


Thanks for the help

 

[Lauren]

What is the size of the tank and how many (and what kind of) fish are you using to cycle? I'm surprised they haven't all dropped dead yet.

 

[Seaman]

Just keep up with the waterchanges like 50% daily, you may also have a bad test kit. I would take some of the water to the LFS and have them test it. If anything add 5 tablespoons of regular salt, or aquarium salts...this will help keep the nitrIte from hurting the fish, its more a temporary bandage, but it keeps the nitrIte from inhibiting the gills from taking up oxygen.

You shouldnt need chemicals to keep the nitrites in check, they are IMO bandages for bigger problems. Once you have completed your cycle you shouldnt show nitrItes anymore, if anything you may get high nitrAtes instead, but those are MUCH less toxic to fish, and are IMO more of an overall guideline of when to change your water, because you're changing it to remove other toxins as well, they just cant be measured as eaisly as nitrAtes.


Tell us more. What size tank, what are the inhabitants...how long have you been cycling for etc. anything you think will help.

 

[Raskolnikov]

Have you performed your nitrite test on your change water (from the tap or whatever source you use)?


With regards to the salt, I would focus on changing the water in your case. You need to bring Cl- concentrations up to 3-6 times the concentration of nitrite in order to control the toxicity using salt. Increases in salinity must be done gradually in order to avoid shocking your fish. Do more water changes. When you do a water change, take a reading afterwards. Still have nitrites? Do another one. Not tomorrow, but right now, using treated water of the same temp as your tank.

Quite frankly, I'm suprised that most of your fish are still alive.

 

[Seaman]

Do a google search on "NitrItes effect fish" it takes a mere 3-5 tablespoons per 100g to keep nitrites from being absorbed by the gills wich causes the hemoglobin in the fish's blood to form metheamoglobin, which means the blood cannot carry as much oxygen around the body of the fish, so that will ultimately make them listless and die. I have used as much as 20 tablespoons of tablesalt (mainly for ich) in my 75 gallons all at once with no ill effects to my cories (who are sensitive to salt) or my biological filter. Also another thing you can do to help stop the effects is lower the water temp a little, SLOWLY. I would say its safe to go as low as 74-75 with no problems perhaps a little more, just keep an eye on them. Because Amonia and NitrItes are a lot more deadly at higher temp's.

In this case where every minute that the fish are exposed to NitrItes it is doing them harm, I would use salt, even though its a bandage for now, it will help keep the fish healthy while you figure out what is causing the nitrItes.

Another thing to note is some fish have a much higher tolerance to absorbing nitrItes than others.

By no means do you have to follow my suggestins, its just what I would do If I were in your shoes.

 

[accarpenter]

I am having the same problem with no help and am really concerned but the nitrite levels are through the roof. My cichlids were in an established 55 gal tank and we moved them two weeks ago to a 110 gallon. We kept a little of the substrate and some of the old water to help jumpstart the bioligical filter. It has been up for 2 weeks now. The fish are acting fine but we noticed they were starting to lose their color. I checked the water are my nitrites are registering at 10. I don't know how they haven't already died to be honest. We are doing partial water changes 2x per day and the levels are still at 10. My nitrates are 30ppm..ph at 8.2, the water is hard with optimum alkalinity. Regardless of what we do the nitrites will not budge. I have gone through a whole bottle of prime in 3 days as it says it can detox nitrite in an emergency......my plants are also starting to wilt can this also be hurting the tank??? :huh: :huh: :huh: :huh: :huh: :huh: :huh: :dive: