kendalli Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 just about losing my blue. Nitrite level just sprang up. noticed it yesterday when my blue began breathing heavy. tested everything ammonia is fine nitrate is fine ph fine nitrite is too high. done water changes added Nutrafin cycle. stopped feeding incresed oxygen into tank. the water now is at least mildly choppy. nitrite is still the same. I only put these fish in last week. I thought it was cyclying well. i have a 3 footer with a few malawis in it. i know its small but i have a cf 1200 on it with another air pump with airstones. what more can I do to stop anymore from dying? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashieFront Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 It happens. Sometimes it takes really long for it to go away. I've change almost half the water in some cases and it was still there. sorry about ur loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D6C1 Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Whats the temperature on the tank? What do you add to the water when you do a water change? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kendalli Posted January 10, 2006 Author Share Posted January 10, 2006 apart from the ageing chemical and putting in cycle nothing else. trying for it to stay at 28 but at this weather having a hard time keeping it under 30. tested the nitrite today still the same. I have never used Nutrafin cycle b4. I heard that it will neutralfy nitrite however will still have a high reading but won't harm the fish is this true? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skyedge Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Hi Kendali, How long since you started the cycling of your tank..? How are you cycling it..? Did you jump start using established filter/ water.? What is the exact reading on the amonia, nitrite, and nitrate..? What is the size of your tank? If you need any water or substrate to jumpstart your tank, I might be able to help you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 Doesn't rock salt reduce osmotic pressure on the fish during nitrite spikes? Definately get some established filter medium & either put it in the cannister or squeeze it into the tank ASAP! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxi Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 Had exact same issues in my tanks. Thought it had cycled up well - then bang! Nitrite only. I started changing 10% water - did this for 3 days - but the reading hardly moved. Then changed 30% water for 2 days - this started showing the levels dropping. Did a 3rd 30% change & got it back to 0. Seems to be holding well now - even with the heat! Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 hey kendalli, i dont think little 10% water changes will do anything i would do a couple of lge water changes to get nitrite down how many fish did u put in tank? mayb u overstocked too fast? anyways try and get some old filter wool in the system should help cheers wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Salita Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 the nitrifying bacteria are obviously dying off, or not established. Personally I am not a fan of cycle, and have not seen any good data that it does anything significant to establish bacteria colonies. Easy life, or stresszyme on the other hand seem to actually work. Easy life will actually absorb the nitrite as well as encourage the bacteria. I reccomend it highly when problems like thses arise. As you have found out, nitrite is very deadly. have you changed foods recently, or is there uneaten food laying around, or is there a dead fish hidden somewhere??? Oh, and have you checked your tap water for nitrite! but a little salt will help as Ash suggects, and several bigger water changes as wayne suggeested. 10% is nearly a waste of time. 3-4 30% changes will reduce the levels. but check the tap water first. hth, Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kendalli Posted January 18, 2006 Author Share Posted January 18, 2006 As of this morning: Nitrite: 0ppm Amm: 0ppm Nitrate: 0ppm Thanks to everyone info and help. I ended up only losing the blue so I think I did well. Excellent learning expereince just have to maintain this now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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