NITRITE question again!!

[sueglancy]

I posted earlier...here's a quick synopsis:

20 gallon - 2 fancy tail goldfish (1 black moor/1 orange specked). Both are only about 2" from head to tail. I have been cycling my tank for 3 weeks now. Ammonia reading is fine but nitrites continue to remain constant at about 2 ppm. I have been doing water changes at least every other day (approx.30%). I noticed today that the black moor has a white speck on one fin and one of the eyes seems more bulged than the other. I did a 50% water change today. Still high nitrites after water change. Should I do another 50% water change??? When will these nitrites subside? Thanks.

 

[Kasakato]

Nitrites take a long time to go down. With my fish less cycle it took two weeks just for nitrites. I would do two 75% back to back water changes. Thoes fish will grow out your tank oneday. If possible I would return them and get some other fish that will grow into your tank.

 

[TONO]

yes do a large water change, get rid of the nitrites.

 

[Kasakato]

And do 50%-75% water changes every day to keep the levels down.

 

[sueglancy]

Thanks! I'll do another water change today.

 

[Roland]

have you done a test on your water supply? you would be surprised of the levels of nitrites that are considered acceptable by local authorities. Especially nitrates.

 

[pjfish]

yeh, check your tap water. I tried really hard to get rid of all my nitrates by doing water changes until I figured out the tap water had about 15-20. So that's pretty much my "zero" now.

 

[sueglancy]

I did test my water supply and do have high nitrites. Now what? Thanks!

 

[Kasakato]

High= ??ppm

 

[sueglancy]

nitrites = 1.5-2 ppm