I tested before hand. I'll test after next time, to see if there's a difference.
Water change not effecting nitrite level
- Thread starter sdbarker
- Start date
spirals
i will eat you in your sleep
i read that somewhere as well. One of the chemicals used to break down chlorine will turn chloramine into ammonia. So unless you are getting/using something which deals with chlorine and chloramine you could be turning the chloramine into ammonia.
Prime ftw!
I knew I forgot to mention something in my original post. I've run a full panel on my tap water, and it's perfectly fine. I'll pick up some Prime and see how that works out, as well as switch to two 30% changes / day instead of alternating a 50% and 20% like I have been.
If it doesn't go away soon, I'll see if I can't find someone to take one of plecos off of my hands.
Thanks for your help guys, I'll be sure and keep you all updated.
If it doesn't go away soon, I'll see if I can't find someone to take one of plecos off of my hands.
Thanks for your help guys, I'll be sure and keep you all updated.
prime as well as some other conditioners remove chlorine and breaks down chloramine
then it removes chlorine the chlorine basically just off gasses..the other issue comes from Chloramine(chlorine bound with ammonia to make the produce more stable) the conditioners tha remove chloramine break doen the chlorine and ammonia bond..the chlorine off gasses and the ammonia is bound with an extra hydrogen to turn it into ammonium..a less toxic form of ammonia.
most test test for total ammonia..(ammonia and ammonium) so you can get a false positive for ammonia.
now on to the water changes.. the conditioner don't technically remove the nitrites and ammonia..it binds them up by adding a molecule.there by rendering them less harmfull.keypint to remember..these binders can break down.
so it is imperative to do water changes..
if yo uare showing a .5 nitrite you need to do at least a 50% water change to get the nitrites down to a safe level..basically a 50% water change should reduce the nitrites by 50% (.50 should drop to .25)
doing 2 30% water changes will not have the same effect..as the concentration will only be reduced by 30% each water change.
say for instance you have .5 do a 30% water change and you get.35 all thing remaining the same the second water change gives you .245
the problem is the nitrites are rising the whole time you are not doing a water change..and by changing 60% in 2 changes the benefit gain is only .005
my suggestion is to do 50% and retest change water as needed to keep the nitrites at or below .25
then it removes chlorine the chlorine basically just off gasses..the other issue comes from Chloramine(chlorine bound with ammonia to make the produce more stable) the conditioners tha remove chloramine break doen the chlorine and ammonia bond..the chlorine off gasses and the ammonia is bound with an extra hydrogen to turn it into ammonium..a less toxic form of ammonia.
most test test for total ammonia..(ammonia and ammonium) so you can get a false positive for ammonia.
now on to the water changes.. the conditioner don't technically remove the nitrites and ammonia..it binds them up by adding a molecule.there by rendering them less harmfull.keypint to remember..these binders can break down.
so it is imperative to do water changes..
if yo uare showing a .5 nitrite you need to do at least a 50% water change to get the nitrites down to a safe level..basically a 50% water change should reduce the nitrites by 50% (.50 should drop to .25)
doing 2 30% water changes will not have the same effect..as the concentration will only be reduced by 30% each water change.
say for instance you have .5 do a 30% water change and you get.35 all thing remaining the same the second water change gives you .245
the problem is the nitrites are rising the whole time you are not doing a water change..and by changing 60% in 2 changes the benefit gain is only .005
my suggestion is to do 50% and retest change water as needed to keep the nitrites at or below .25
You have to get the level down to 0.25ppm after a water change. Don't think of specific targets like 20% or 30%. Do a 50% and test. If it is still very high then do it again. Then you will be able to control it better.
Also a single common pleco is a bit much long term for a tank that size. 2 is overkill and is probably a problem. Can you take one back? That would lessen he fish load a lot and help you with your problem.
Also a single common pleco is a bit much long term for a tank that size. 2 is overkill and is probably a problem. Can you take one back? That would lessen he fish load a lot and help you with your problem.
Do the 50%, give in 10 mins, test. If over .25 Do another change...maybe less (25%).
Prime is what I use myself as a dechlorinator. Instructions on the bottle indicate that 'in an emergency' it may be used to detoxify Nitrite at 5 times normal dose.
What I would do is test in the morning, do water changes as necessary, test again in the evening (presuming you don't see signs of fish in distress during the day), and do water change as necessary. If you find that the levels are increasing above .25 during that period of about 8 hours, dose the tank with Prime overnight to keep the fish safe until you can do your water change the next morning.
And you do need to remove the plecos eventually - they get far too large for your tank, but you already know that
Well, it's been a little while, and everything is off to normal. I unfortunately did lose my Jonni to fungus while things were going on (obviously related, but was cause by one of the petco plecos (never doing that again) having it when I got them).
But, now all is well.
But, now all is well.
