Need Help Fast! Nitrites and Nitrates up the roof!

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cthoughts1

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 5, 2008
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NYC
Hey all.. I've had my tank for about 3 months now. About a month into it I thought the tank cycled completely. I slowly added fish until i got to 4 clowns, 2 cobies, 1 skunk shrimp, 1 small hippo tang, a dart fish and a bi-color blenny.. About a week ago I got a little carried away and picked up a small 2" yellow tang and a powder blue tang (3-4") and a Naso tang.

Since I added those last 3 tangs my readings went up the roof with the Nitrites and Nitrates. My ammonia is still at zero, but my nitrites are between 1 and 2 and my nitrates are around 30. I know that is way too high. It's been like this for a few days now and I'm panicking quite a bit now. I've put in Bio-Spira as well as One and Only by Dr. Tim's and it doesn't seem to be helping the situation. I initially did water changes daily when I discovered this about 5 days ago but when I went into the pet shop they told me to stop doing the water changes.

I have an Eheim 2217 cannister filter (rated 125 gallons), an under gravel filter with two powerheads, a tetratec hang on (rated 125 gallons), a Berilin X2 turbo skimmer, and a UV sterilizer.

Please give me some advice or ideas as what to do? So far I moved my blenny and the yellow tang to a 24 gallon nano-cube I have, but I don't wanna put any more fish inthere for fear of the same thing happening. Any thoughts, suggestions, ideas, or similar experiences? I'd hate to lose any of my fish...
 
Hey all.. I've had my tank for about 3 months now. About a month into it I thought the tank cycled completely. Thinking that a tank is cycled and adding such a large bioload, I am surprised that it didn't happen sooner.
 I slowly added fish until i got to 4 clowns, 2 cobies, 1 skunk shrimp, 1 small hippo tang, a dart fish and a bi-color blenny.. About a week ago I got a little carried away and picked up a small 2" yellow tang and a powder blue tang (3-4") and a Naso tang.
(Poop machines) But if you did your research you would have known that.
Since I added those last 3 tangs my readings went up the roof with the Nitrites and Nitrates.
You are telling us nothing about the tank other than the inhabitants.
My ammonia is still at zero, but my nitrites are between 1 and 2 and my nitrates are around 30.
This is because your system was still cycling and you added such a large bioload too quickly.
I know that is way too high. It's been like this for a few days now and I'm panicking quite a bit now. I've put in Bio-Spira as well as One and Only by Dr. Tim's and it doesn't seem to be helping the situation.
Of course not. Just because the belief of adding bacteria into the water is going to help you. Guess what? You need time for beneficial bacteria to colonize onto things like the sand and the rock.
I initially did water changes daily when I discovered this about 5 days ago but when I went into the pet shop they told me to stop doing the water changes.
That right there is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard. You need to start doing more water changes to keep up with the amount of waste that those fish provide.

I have an Eheim 2217 cannister filter (rated 125 gallons)
Nitrate factory
, an under gravel filter
Again another nitrate factory.
with two powerheads, a tetratec hang on (rated 125 gallons), a Berilin X2 turbo skimmer, and a UV sterilizer.

Please give me some advice or ideas as what to do? So far I moved my blenny and the yellow tang to a 24 gallon nano-cube
A tang in a 24 nano. What are you thinking? Bring back some of those fish to the pet store and never go back there again.
I have, but I don't wanna put any more fish inthere for fear of the same thing happening. Any thoughts, suggestions, ideas, or similar experiences? I'd hate to lose any of my fish...
Hate to tell you this, but unless you get rid of the tangs and some of the inhabitants you are asking for failure. Your tank was far from ready for such a bioload. But if you read this you would have known it by now.
 
Seems to me that if your nitrite is high your nitrates would be higher than 30. Are the fish showing signs of stress? I agree the load is to much but you could also have a bad test kit.
 
I have to agree with Skene all the way!! Plus, what info/specs do you have on your display tank??
 
I wont beat you up as I see skene has not been nice to you already, But you need to get some of those fish or all of them out there and let that tank fully cycle like a full 2 months. Your nitrates at that level are not going to hurt your fish but the nitrites will turn to high amonia levels and actually suprised you arent spiking already. Do you have someone that can hold on to the fish for you? They will all die if you dont get them out.
 
The only way for people to learn is the hard way. Smack them up a bit and they realize they did something wrong.
Reality sucks doesn't it?
 
it could have been said a little nicer, i know there are alot of us on here that have made mistakes. Your best bet is to remove your fish bring them back wait until your cycle is finished then restart. as far as your filters go they are fine you just need to keep an eye on nitrates because skene said they are a nice home for nitrates to build up but next time you will know to take your time. good luck hopefully everything goes well.
 
Sorry... next time I'll say things a bit nicer... like asking him to take the lil fishies back to the pet store purdy pweeze.

Sarcasm.
 
you may not like what I have to type or enjoy reading it.. but if you read between the lines you might find some helpful information.
So be that as it may. If you don't like it... you don't have to read it.
 
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