Rays need help please.

[Andy189]

Hi everyone. My grow out tank is 230gl. I currently have 1 aro and 2 black diamond stingray. I just checked the water on my tank.
Ammonia-0
Ph- 6.5
Nitrite 2.0
Nitrate 20
Everyone is happy in the tank. I do water change twice a week. The rays is only about 6” right now and the aro is 7”. What happend to my nitrite? Is there anything I can do to keep it down? I read a lots of thread state that it should be 0. Please help. Thanks a lot

 

[sikoko]

I would assume you need to do bigger water changes and a better filtration system. I also believe pH should be a little higher to accommodate rays.

 

[tlindsey]

The problem is the Nitrite. Nitrite level should be 0 ppm consistently.

 

[Andy189]

I would assume you need to do bigger water changes and a better filtration system. I also believe pH should be a little higher to accommodate rays.

Im using a big sump. The sump is loaded with biohomes and cleaning regularly. I do wc 30% 2 times a week. Should I do 50%?

The problem is the Nitrite. Nitrite level should be 0 ppm consistently.

How can I lower it down? Is there any way or just do water change?

 

[tlindsey]

Im using a big sump. The sump is loaded with biohomes and cleaning regularly. I do wc 30% 2 times a week. Should I do 50%?

How can I lower it down? Is there any way or just do water change?

Your bio media may not be enough to handle the bioload waste and larger wc's would help at this time. Also keep your testing vials clean use Deionized or Distilled water to keep testing residue off. The residue from testing will cause false readings.

 

[Matteus]

Was this reading from one test? I would recommend to just rinse it and try again to see if the test was wrong.

How long has the tank been set up for, with fish in it? It sounds like it has been up for a bit, but I try not to assume too much. Lol.

A possible quick fix could be to add some seachem stability right into your bio media in the sump if that reading is correct. This could give you a boost of B.B. and hope it takes root before any issues arise with your rays.

 

[Andy189]

Your bio media may not be enough to handle the bioload waste and larger wc's would help at this time. Also keep your testing vials clean use Deionized or Distilled water to keep testing residue off. The residue from testing will cause false readings.

I will do it again tomorrow. I was thinking of getting one more box of biohomes. Is there anything else I could add to the sump?

Was this reading from one test? I would recommend to just rinse it and try again to see if the test was wrong.

How long has the tank been set up for, with fish in it? It sounds like it has been up for a bit, but I try not to assume too much. Lol.

A possible quick fix could be to add some seachem stability right into your bio media in the sump if that reading is correct. This could give you a boost of B.B. and hope it takes root before any issues arise with your rays.

The tank has been set up for about 2 months. Currently 2 black diamond rays, 1 5 “ albino silver and I just pick up an asian aro yesterday or 5”.

 

[Matteus]

Hmm. Sounds like you might still be establishing your cycle and that is why you are reading nitrites. Adding more fish could be a fatal thing to do at this point. All the fish you have mentioned are high waste producers so it might take longer for your B.B. to establish cultures.

The stock you already have is pushing boundaries,all of those fish will outgrow a 230, but you already knew that because you read lots of threads right? If you add more fish you are playing with fire. Look into “seachem stability” if you are planning to bring your B.B. to a place of more likely handling the bio load on the short term.

Some people add k1 media or bio balls to their sumps to add more surface area that the B.B. can live on. Good luck- post picks.

 

[Andy189]

Hmm. Sounds like you might still be establishing your cycle and that is why you are reading nitrites. Adding more fish could be a fatal thing to do at this point. All the fish you have mentioned are high waste producers so it might take longer for your B.B. to establish cultures.

The stock you already have is pushing boundaries,all of those fish will outgrow a 230, but you already knew that because you read lots of threads right? If you add more fish you are playing with fire. Look into “seachem stability” if you are planning to bring your B.B. to a place of more likely handling the bio load on the short term.

Some people add k1 media or bio balls to their sumps to add more surface area that the B.B. can live on. Good luck- post picks.

Thanks a lot for your comment. I was running the tank for 1 month and added a small fish to cycle the tank. The asian arowana is is the one I ordered a few months back and the shipment just got here a few days ago. When the fish are all biger then I will set up a 10ft x 4ft for them. I will get a bottle of Seachem stability. Is there anything else instead of k1 or bio balls?

 

[Matteus]

Thanks a lot for your comment. I was running the tank for 1 month and added a small fish to cycle the tank. The asian arowana is is the one I ordered a few months back and the shipment just got here a few days ago. When the fish are all biger then I will set up a 10ft x 4ft for them. I will get a bottle of Seachem stability. Is there anything else instead of k1 or bio balls?

Some people use lava rock. You can get that at a hardware store or a garden centre. There are also clay potting balls that are very similar to the lava rock but in small ball form. In my city I can get a huge bag for $40.