nitrites

[ssurajj]

k so i just did some tests on my 40 gals's quality.
there is little to no ammonia, but about 5 ppm nitrite.

ive tried to read up abit about this as im worried for my fish health
(1x florida gar, 1x endlicheri congicus)
some suggest to do a water change, but others suggest its cycling and to let it be?

what should i do~

 

[Aquanero]

How long has the tank been set up? It is either not finished cycling or going through a mini cycle do to over cleaning the filter or as a result of meds killing your bio-filter ect. Either way water changes will need to be performed until the boi-filter establishes or reestablishes itself as the case maybe. Using a good quality test kit, not test strips continue to moitor your water and do several (at least 3) 25% water changes a week until the nitrite is zero. During this cycling period feed the fish very lightly once every other day to keep the amount of waste to a minimum, once the tank is completly cycled, 50% weekly water chances should keep the tank in good shape.

 

[kdrun76]

I would do enough water changes to get that nitrite down to 1ppm right now. Nitrite is toxic, it will kill your fish. It bonds to teh hemoglobin of their blood even easier than Oxygen and will prevent your fish from getting oxygen to its tissues.

Go do a 50% change, wait 12 hours and do another one.

Yes your tank is cycling, eventually the bacteria will eat that nitrite for you and you won't have to change it out, but until then, its up to you to keep the water clean enough that the fish can live in it.

Keep testing the water, anytime you see the nitrites up over 1, do a water change. It can take a month to six weeks before the bacteria in your filter does this for you.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Water change + Prime + Aquarium salt

 

[Aquanero]

I would do enough water changes to get that nitrite down to 1ppm right now. Nitrite is toxic, it will kill your fish. It bonds to teh hemoglobin of their blood even easier than Oxygen and will prevent your fish from getting oxygen to its tissues.

Go do a 50% change, wait 12 hours and do another one.

Yes your tank is cycling, eventually the bacteria will eat that nitrite for you and you won't have to change it out, but until then, its up to you to keep the water clean enough that the fish can live in it.

Keep testing the water, anytime you see the nitrites up over 1, do a water change. It can take a month to six weeks before the bacteria in your filter does this for you.

Yes I agree 100% I should ahve said to do a large water change immediatly, and would have if it wasn't so early in the morning. I was still working on my 1st cup of coffee!