Nitrite Question

[leavundst]

Hi guys. New to the forum have been lurking for a while. I started over with my 40 gallon fresh water tank. The tank is established. It had 2 RB piranhas that went to the LFS. The tank now has 9 guppies and 6 neon tetra. I can't seem to get the nitrite below 2ppm. Any advice? My levels from the last few days are below. I believe the ammonia was up for a few days because I replaced most of the grave, it's zero now. Current filtration is UG and Whisper 60. An Eheim canister is coming tomorrow.
Thanks in advance.

1/8/2007
0.25 Amonia
2 Nitrite
40 Nitrate

1/12/2007
0.25 Amonia
2 Nitrite
40 Nitrate

1/13/2007
0.25 Amonia
2 Nitrite
40 Nitrate

1/14/2007
0 Amonia
2 Nitrite
10 Nitrate

 

[Rbishop]

Are you using a liquid test kit? Are the reagents expired?

I would be doing water changes until it read below .25

 

[leavundst]

Are you using a liquid test kit? Are the reagents expired?

I would be doing water changes until it read below .25

Yep liquid kit. API Brand. Here is the link. http://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Pharmaceuticals-Freshwater-Master-Test/dp/B000255NCI

There is no expiration date on it, i just picked it up a month ago at LFS, but I suppose it could have been there for a while.

 

[Rbishop]

I think you are looking at doing three 50% water changes to get those nitrites down to acceptable levels.

 

[leavundst]

Thanks

 

[Mgamer20o0]

i would keep doing 50% water changes until it stays low. that might mean a couple in one day.

 

[WeeNe858]

Might be the UGF.. did you clean out the tank after you got rid of the pirahnas?.. the crud might still be stuck under it...

 

[leavundst]

Actually I did clean out all the garbage under the UG filter. And there was a lot. I'm thinking I should have kept more of the original gravel. Doing another water change as we speak.

Also, another question. Every time I do water change I clean the gravel. Can I be over cleaning it? I clean roughly 50% the other 50% is too close to plants and under decorations that I don't want to disturb.

 

[Caspar]

What is the PH and Temp on the tank? A low PH (6.5 and lower) can inhibit the growth of bacteria. If your temp is to warm it cant interfere with the oxygen level in the water also inhibiting bacterial growth.

Take Care!

 

[leavundst]

The PH is 7.2 Temp is 76. Temp was 72 for a while due to a crappy 200 watt walmart whisper heater that could not heat the tank. I will do another test today and repost.

I also tried doing a strip test, but it seems to be complete crap. The results are all over the board and have no consistency. If there is a better test kit, please let me know. I wish there was just a probe you could stick in and it would spit out all the results. I suppose it exists and costs a small fortune.

Thanks again guys.