Nitrites won't lower - help!

My Red Flame Gourami is on her side at the bottom of the tank. Sounds like a bladder problem from the nitrites? I just ran to the lfs and got a breeder net...she's in that now. I also did another 60% water change before putting her back in. (I took her to the pet store to see what they thought - maybe I was missing another disease...I also brought a water sample). They concurred with my readings and also couldn't measure how high the nitrites really are...their system goes to 7 and it was above that. Their suggestion was adding this live nitrifying bacteria after the water change...I did that...now just a waiting game, I guess? Any thoughts on that bacteria? Or on Wendy being on her side? Thanks all!

By the way...kmail...I agree with the others, you seem to be overloaded on your fish per gallon. Good luck!
 
Their suggestion was adding this live nitrifying bacteria after the water change...I did that...now just a waiting game, I guess? Any thoughts on that bacteria? Or on Wendy being on her side? Thanks all!
Click to expand...

Which "live nitrifying bacteria" Bio-spira works if handled properly, as far as I know it is the only brand that will actually do you any good.
Dave
 
Biozyme - I saw some posts recently about it - I will look up the archives and read up on it.
 
Nitrite Update!!!

Well, I have added Amquel and Biozyme nitrifying bacteria...here are my readings now....

pH 7.8
ammonia - .25
Nitrite - .50
Nitrate - .15

WOW!!!! What an immediate difference. My Gourami is still lying on her side, but maybe this has saved the other fish. This seems to be an amazing combination for lowering lethal Nitrite when water changes are not working quickly enough. Any thoughts? Did I do more harm or are we on the right track?
 
Be ready for things to return to the previous levels or worse. the biozyme will not last long, and when it dies it will add to the pollutants not take away from them. Amquel is from what I understand an excellent product that will help relieve some of the toxitity of high ammonia and nitrite.

Water changes are still the best option, but you need to do a big enough water change to actually reduce the nitrite. You will not hurt your fish with high volume water changes. Just dechlorinate, match temperature, and change as much as you need to. In a 10g that shouldn't be overly difficult. The gourami may recover from the nitrite poisoning, but watch very closely for secondary infections. the stress usually allows bacteri or fungus to attack while the fish is weak.
Dave
 
Yes, I agree with the water changes - my tank is 26 gallons, the other guy on the thread had a 10, so difficult but not too bad. I will wait another day or so to impact the least amount of stress on the fish I can. The levels are actually great today! ammonia .25, nitrites .25, nitrates 20. The gourami is still alive in the breeder net, but still on her side laying flat. (I guess as long as she is not floating, its better than dead!) Poor thing.

I will continue the water changes - but how much how often? I was thinking maybe 50-75% every other day? How long until the biozyme stops working? It seems to be doing great with the amquel right now. I hate to mess up a good thing.
 
With salt (0.3%) in your water, Nitrites can be up to 1 ppm without doing much damage to the fish though less is better and 0.0 being optimum. Any ammonia in your tank in the NH3 form is dangerous. The only value I accept in my tanks for ammonia is 0.0 with 0.25 being the highest I go if I have a problem with my biofilter or I am cycling with fish. Nitrates are fine to me as long as I keep them under 40 with under 20 being my main target. In my planted tanks, I usually get under 5.
 
Oh yes, rrkss I forgot to follow up with you on the salt. It measured 0.5 - 0.6 (hard to tell on the meter I got). That must be left over from the ich treatment for the past couple of weeks. I am sure it was much higher before I did the water changes. Sounds ok then?

How do you keep your ammonia down? Frequent water changes? If so, how many how often for your tank? Thanks
 
With Biozyme, it's hard to say how long it may help. Most bacteria ina bottle products are in fact bacteria ina bottle, just nt the correct bacteria for long term life in our systems. just watch test numbers and wait it out.

water chsnge amounts and frequency are basically as needed. Whatever it takes to reduce the levels. 75% daily may be enough, it could be more than needed or it could be inadequate. You'll just have to measure levels before and after to figure out the need.

Once the "cycle" is estabilished, then ammonia and Nitrite should remain at 0 as rrkss said. the bio-filteris live bacteria that consume these two compounds. Until then the best control for ammonia is water changes as well.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64301

dave
 
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