Nitrite off the charts...

[_Piranha_]

My nitrate looks normal but my Nitrite is off the charts. I recently put sand in my tank about few weeks ago. Could this be why? An I keep having my P's slaughter other fish every two weeks. ( Killing each other ) Could that also raise this?

Any help with be great thanks..

 

[BRUNER247]

All that adding up! Sand raised my ph I never had a problem with nitrite though.but you lost a lot of BB switching to sand.

 

[bomber]

I would do 50% water changes everyday and add salt and more prime to lower the nitrites til its gone. Yes EVERYDAY.

 

[juice604]

I would do 50% water changes everyday and add salt and more prime to lower the nitrites til its gone. Yes EVERYDAY.

x2 !@!

 

[jp80911]

you probably not having enough bacterias to convert nitrite to nitrate. maybe a mini cycle after you switched to sand. which is strange cuz most of bacterias are in your filter bio media, switching substrate shouldn't matter much. what size tank, how many piranhas and what kind of filters?

 

[Mr Pleco]

Look for something dead in the tank possibly!

 

[BRUNER247]

Changed media when ya switched to sand maybe?

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

Actually, lots of bacteria are in the substrate. You indeed disrupted the biofiltration. It does not speak well for your filter's biocapacity, though. Make sure you have enough as your Ps grow, they are going to create a massive bioload.

HarleyK

 

[jacks]

did you check the filter and pipes for something dead or a hidden piece of rotting meat..