High nitrates an nitrites

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
fishN420

fishN420

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 11, 2011
36
14
8
Canada
I jus got back frm one of my local fish stores with some Peacock Bass..i looked in my 55 gallon an noticed my fish were breathing a lil heavier then usual..did some test an noticed my ammonia level is fine but my nitrites an nitrates are high..i just did a water change 2 days ago..any advice on what i should do? Should i put my peacock bass in a different aquarium now ?

20180320_153859.jpg
 
If you got a bigger tank then the water volume will dilute it out for sure. Then will accumulate and happen again as you maybe overdfeeding and/or under filtrating ur tank.

How big are the pbass? Upgrade of tank and if so then when? How often are u feeding? What’s ur current filtration?
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey
looks to me like something is not getting the job done. whens the last time you properly cleaned your filters? you say 55g? how many fish and type are they?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Davidiator and kno4te
pops said:
looks to me like something is not getting the job done. whens the last time you properly cleaned your filters? you say 55g? how many fish and type are they?
Click to expand...


I have 2 tophead filters hanging..both filters are rated for 50-60 gallons..the tank has only been running for about 4-5 weeks..my LFS thinks i may need to throw a quickstart in there an get that good bacteria in there...i do have a 210 gallon but i cant put the peacock bass in there cuz they will get eatin...
 
takes 5 to 6 weeks to fully cycle a tank, sounds like you are almost there, ammonia getting done, and nitrites are starting to get done, keep up water changes allot, nitrite worse for fish than ammonia as far as poisoning so want to keep those down with water changes, give a week or so and your tank should stabilize.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey
Yes. Your filters are at least halfway finished through the process. You already have enough of the 'right' kinds of bacteria. If you didn't then you wouldn't have any nitrate. You have NitrIte because it just needs more time to complete. First ammonia drops to zero, then nitrIte will also drop to zero.

Nitrite is very toxic as stated. You can use salt ... regular salt to block the toxicity of nitrite from your fish. It only takes a little bit of chloride from table salt, rock salt, aquarium salt ... just make sure it's sodium chloride. One tablespoon in 55 gallons is roughly 50 mg/l or ppm Cl- which should be enough to block the NO2 from your fish's gills. The directions call for 1 tablespoon every 5-10 gallons which is 550 mg/l Cl- at one tablespoon per 5 gallons and 275 mg/l Cl- at one tablespoon per 10 gallons. Using as directed is fine unless you have fish sensitive to salt.

Be careful with your filter media. Don't let it dry out. Don't replace it and only use old tank water for rinsing it in.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey
The ammonia results don't typically look like that. The color tends to be more yellow .. at least matching that of the first or color on the chart. Make sure the ammonia test is being performed correctly. In practice, I believe you should see some ammonia with such high nitrite levels although, in theory, ammonia does drops to zero while nitrite remains positive.

There are two ammonia solutions. 8 drops are added from each solution or bottle. The test tube is then shaken *hard* for 5-10 seconds and left for 5 minutes before the color is matched to the chart.
 
See my plan for my 150 was to have it cycle for about 1 week but then the plastic tub holding my fish started to leech poison into the water so I had to quickly heat the 150 and put the fish in there. The tank is now cycled 2 days after filling it. I suggest you stop feeding for about 1 week and let you filters catch up. They most likely have the bacteria now they just need to use it lol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom