Nitrite Levels

[stew_mag]

Hey, I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask/post this, but I have 3 rbps in a 55 gallon tank, which I have had cycled with black mollies for about 3 weeks and now have had the rbps for about one week. When I did some water tests everything was fine, except my nitrite levels are very very high. I have done weekly 25% water changes with amquel+ to lower ammonia and all that.

So please help, I have read that sea salt can lower it and theres some products out there that lower nitrite.

Thanks,
Stew

 

[Cliff519]

Sounds like either your tank hasn't finished it's cycle, or the bioload was increased faster than the BB could keep up.

I would approach this the same way as you would when cycling with fish. Check your water parameters daily. If some of your levels are high, complete a 50% water change. I would also stop useing chemicals other than declorinator until your tank is stable. As your tank was (at least in part) cycled, this should not take more than a few weeks to work through

 

[dawnmarie]

When I did some water tests everything was fine, except my nitrite levels are very very high.

With all due respect friend, the above quote is a contradiction. Everything is not fine. Your tank was not fully cycled when you added the "rbps". You aren't sort of cycling with fish you actually are (kind'a like being pregnant).
Were you still dealing with ammonia a week ago before adding the "rbps" ?
What are your daily ammonia and Nitrite readings currently ?
Did you start cycling this tank three weeks ago from scratch ?
BTW, Cliff519 is giving you good advice. Daily W/C's are in order.
Keep after it Stew, you'll get through this.

 

[stew_mag]

Sounds like either your tank hasn't finished it's cycle, or the bioload was increased faster than the BB could keep up.

I would approach this the same way as you would when cycling with fish. Check your water parameters daily. If some of your levels are high, complete a 50% water change. I would also stop useing chemicals other than declorinator until your tank is stable. As your tank was (at least in part) cycled, this should not take more than a few weeks to work through

Thanks, but why shouldn't I use amquel+ if it removes nitrite? What if it's my tap water that is carrying the nitrite? I'm sorry if this sounds very stupid, because I don't really know exactly what nitrite is, except that it's not very good for fish.

Thanks,
Stew

 

[biohazardcustomz]

Thanks, but why shouldn't I use amquel+ if it removes nitrite? What if it's my tap water that is carrying the nitrite? I'm sorry if this sounds very stupid, because I don't really know exactly what nitrite is, except that it's not very good for fish.

Thanks,
Stew

ok nitrite is the second step of the nitrogen cycle. it is very bad for your fish. much worse than ammonia. water changes are a big part and with fish keeping the term "what if" could be very costly in the end. check your tap water before you put it in the tank. find out any threats it may cause to your fish but more important the threats it could cause to your beneficial bacteria. read this for sure. it will help you better understand the cycle process. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224559

that is for fishless cycling only difference is your "pure ammonia" is fish waste. the only chemical additive i would recommend is prime. best stuff out there and it doesn't affect your cycle process but it converts ammonia to a non toxic form and detoxifies nitrite in emergencys. it is your water conditioner and everything all in one. i use it faithfully in more than 10 tanks. but to sum it up ammonia converts to nitrite, nitrite converts to nitrate. nitrate is your good stuff. but you do frequent water changes to keep the nitrate down. tank is cycled when tests read ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate in between 5 and 15 but add fish slowly. also when you cycle with small fish the bio load of the large fish when introduced is way more. the large ammonia rush all at once can break down your cycle process and cause it to spike and can kill your fish. tap water from a city supply almost always has chlorine in it. this will also kill your beneficial bacteria. prime is also a dechlorinater. please read the link and ask all the questions you would like. these people are all wonderful and a great help. you have come to the right place!

 

[biohazardcustomz]

oh yeah i forgot to add. i used amquel + in my first tank. guy at a petsmart told me it was the best stuff ever. it actually kept me from being able to properly cycle the tank. i stopped using it and gave it time and didnt have a problem. only thing it may have done for me is kept those poor fish alive for a little bit longer. poor guys. i wish i would have found this site before i started spending money instead finding it in frustration.

 

[stew_mag]

oh yeah i forgot to add. i used amquel + in my first tank. guy at a petsmart told me it was the best stuff ever. it actually kept me from being able to properly cycle the tank. i stopped using it and gave it time and didnt have a problem. only thing it may have done for me is kept those poor fish alive for a little bit longer. poor guys. i wish i would have found this site before i started spending money instead finding it in frustration.

Then what should I use instead of amquel+? Prime?

 

[stew_mag]

ok nitrite is the second step of the nitrogen cycle. it is very bad for your fish. much worse than ammonia. water changes are a big part and with fish keeping the term "what if" could be very costly in the end. check your tap water before you put it in the tank. find out any threats it may cause to your fish but more important the threats it could cause to your beneficial bacteria. read this for sure. it will help you better understand the cycle process. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224559

that is for fishless cycling only difference is your "pure ammonia" is fish waste. the only chemical additive i would recommend is prime. best stuff out there and it doesn't affect your cycle process but it converts ammonia to a non toxic form and detoxifies nitrite in emergencys. it is your water conditioner and everything all in one. i use it faithfully in more than 10 tanks. but to sum it up ammonia converts to nitrite, nitrite converts to nitrate. nitrate is your good stuff. but you do frequent water changes to keep the nitrate down. tank is cycled when tests read ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate in between 5 and 15 but add fish slowly. also when you cycle with small fish the bio load of the large fish when introduced is way more. the large ammonia rush all at once can break down your cycle process and cause it to spike and can kill your fish. tap water from a city supply almost always has chlorine in it. this will also kill your beneficial bacteria. prime is also a dechlorinater. please read the link and ask all the questions you would like. these people are all wonderful and a great help. you have come to the right place!

So wait, did I screw up big time now that my tank isn't properly cycled and I already have my piranhas in there? How can I save them?

Thanks,
Stew

 

[biohazardcustomz]

this is what i would recommend. test water daily, use prime for conditioner and to detoxify nitrites and break down ammonia. and keep it up until your test read ammonia 0 nitrite 0 and nitrates 5 to 15. you didnt screw up its a common mistake its just the mollies that cycled the tank have no where near as much waste as the new bigger fish do. so the tank isnt back to square one quite yet. your doing good just watch those levels and keep the water changes up to help keep levels down. it will establish and work out for you. but those articles will explain everything and help you understand whats going on alot better.

 

[KaiserSousay]

use prime for conditioner and to detoxify nitrites and break down ammonia

Good advice there.
Using Prime is not just brand loyalty, it`s just a whole lot cheaper than the Amquel and just as effective.
Warning: Mini Rant...
Real easy to put blame on the "Box" pet supply store people who give bad advice. These people, who might make min. wage and are instructed on how to sell fish, are usually not fish keepers themselves.
Even if they have a tank they could still be clueless.
Why shouldn`t they be?
Look where they work.
I wouldn`t expect the guy who stocks the auto supply aisles in WalMart to give me tune up advice. Even if he did, shame on me if I take it and blow up my engine.
Rant done.
Lots of water changes for you.
Not going to say this will have a good outcome, it could, or not.
Will say, Good luck.