Nitrate count high. Constant water changes dont help....what now?
- Thread starter itswoodie
- Start date
Are you using those dip strips for the tests or are they the actual test tubes and liquid?? I used those dip strips and they gave me false readings before, so that might be it too??
I would have your LFS test the water to make sure your tests are working. Nitrite should have been lowered by the percentage of the water change directly after the water change, and we see no change whatsoever.
nitrite readings
I am using the strips as I have a four year old that constantly gets into stuff and I am afraid to have the tubes for fear he will get in the chemicals. I have tried testing other water sources and the strips seem to work fine. I did a 50% water change this morning and added ACE and stress zyme (I believe) it is the one that has the bacteria for the biological filter and according to it...the nitrite dropped to 2-3. I know it is still high but definitely better than before. I am planning on doing a water change tomorrow after church...probably 25% and adding ace again as that is what seems to be doing the trick. I wish it would hurry up and cycle.....I have a LOT of money invested in fish. I know that probably part of the problem is overstocking but I will be getting rid of a few of the fish soon. Also./...a lot of my plants are wilting and turing brown could this be affecting the nitrite levels?
I am using the strips as I have a four year old that constantly gets into stuff and I am afraid to have the tubes for fear he will get in the chemicals. I have tried testing other water sources and the strips seem to work fine. I did a 50% water change this morning and added ACE and stress zyme (I believe) it is the one that has the bacteria for the biological filter and according to it...the nitrite dropped to 2-3. I know it is still high but definitely better than before. I am planning on doing a water change tomorrow after church...probably 25% and adding ace again as that is what seems to be doing the trick. I wish it would hurry up and cycle.....I have a LOT of money invested in fish. I know that probably part of the problem is overstocking but I will be getting rid of a few of the fish soon. Also./...a lot of my plants are wilting and turing brown could this be affecting the nitrite levels?
You need to do 50% water changes until your nitrites get to .5 ppm.
This might mean twice a day until you the bacteria will catch up enough to keep stable at that level and lower itself.
25% water changes once a day won't cut it. You've dropped them to 3 but by tommorow they'll be back up to 4 or more. If you're worried about slowing the cycle down with water changes you should also know that to high of a nitrite level will also slow it down as the nitrifying bacteria are very fragile and those levels could be killing them off or keeping them from multiplying.
If you want to save the fish and the money you've spent so far you'll want to do the 50% water changes.
Strips are very inaccurate, the test tubes are better on the ammonia,pH and nitrite, not so much nitrates.
As for the plants..
How many watts is the light over the tank? What plants are in the tank?
If they're not compatible with the wpg you have then yes dying plants can contribute to the high nitrites in the form of ammonia. If I'm wrong someone will correct me.
This might mean twice a day until you the bacteria will catch up enough to keep stable at that level and lower itself.
25% water changes once a day won't cut it. You've dropped them to 3 but by tommorow they'll be back up to 4 or more. If you're worried about slowing the cycle down with water changes you should also know that to high of a nitrite level will also slow it down as the nitrifying bacteria are very fragile and those levels could be killing them off or keeping them from multiplying.
If you want to save the fish and the money you've spent so far you'll want to do the 50% water changes.
Strips are very inaccurate, the test tubes are better on the ammonia,pH and nitrite, not so much nitrates.
As for the plants..
How many watts is the light over the tank? What plants are in the tank?
If they're not compatible with the wpg you have then yes dying plants can contribute to the high nitrites in the form of ammonia. If I'm wrong someone will correct me.
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As for the WPG....I don't remember but they were fine in our other tank and were doing fine in this one until we changed the substrate and my husband left them out of the water too long and they can't seem to recover. AAAAArgh about the 50% water change. Our tank is in our den and is impossible to get water out and bring it in. It takes us forever to complete the water change. I will change it again tomorrow and see what happens.
