Nitrites

valerod · 11-11-2007, 12:06 PM

It's half way my tank cycle, and my nitrites are reading 1ppm, I've done 25% water changes every day, but they don't seem to go down. What do you suggest next?

**Scuba Kid** · 11-11-2007, 12:13 PM

Just wait for the cycle to continue. Are you doing a fishless or fish cycle?
And you've said nitrates and nitrites...which is it?

valerod · 11-11-2007, 12:52 PM

I'm doing a fish cycle, and I'm sorry but I mean nitrites. I read that nitrites above 0.75 can cause stress on the fish.
Thanks

neilfishguy · 11-11-2007, 02:25 PM

I would lay off the waterchanges for a day or two.

valerod · 11-11-2007, 02:34 PM

any reason?

**JustOneMore20** · 11-11-2007, 02:35 PM

Fixed the title for ya.

What size tank do you have and what is in it?

valerod · 11-11-2007, 03:26 PM

10 g, 1 guppy, 1 platty, 1 swordtail

neilfishguy · 11-11-2007, 03:59 PM

stop feeding (prevnt more waste) and stop waterchangeing (let the cycle do its thing without inteription for like 2-3 days.

Ice Prince · 11-11-2007, 05:13 PM

changing water doesnt interfere with the cycle process it just lowers the amount of toxins which could kill fish, unless of course you gravel vac.

valerod · 11-11-2007, 05:23 PM

By letting it do it's own thing are you suggesting that if nitrites raise to toxic levels I should let it go? I don't think so.
I'm aware that there is not much bacteria in the water as there is in the gravel and other surfaces.
Anyway, Nobody's told me how to lower the nitrites....

**Scuba Kid** · 11-11-2007, 08:07 PM

Continue with water changes. Thats about as much as you can do. You're probably not seeing the levels go down because the bacteria is continuing to consume ammonia and create nitrites. Continue with water changes to keep the levels from rising any higher and wait for the cycle to move on past this stage.

**JustOneMore20** · 11-11-2007, 09:09 PM

I agree with Katie (Scuba Kid).

Keep doing the water changes...

emc7 · 11-11-2007, 10:04 PM

I agree, keep up the water changes. You need some nitrite for the bacteria to eat, but you don't need toxic levels. You can reduce feeding (skip every other meal or feed less at each), but don't stop entirely that would starve the ammonia eaters and you'd be back to square 1. If you are "seeding" your bacteria with a product like Stability or a filter squeezings from another tank, nows the time for another dose.

11-11-2007, 12:06 PM	#1
valerod Fishy Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: CT Age: 26 Posts: 17	Nitrites It's half way my tank cycle, and my nitrites are reading 1ppm, I've done 25% water changes every day, but they don't seem to go down. What do you suggest next?

11-11-2007, 12:13 PM	#2
Scuba Kid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RI Age: 17 Posts: 4,161	Just wait for the cycle to continue. Are you doing a fishless or fish cycle? And you've said nitrates and nitrites...which is it? __________________ Current setups: 1800 gallon koi pond, 10 gallon planted, 150 gallon reef, other FOWLR tanks

11-11-2007, 02:35 PM	#6
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,490	Fixed the title for ya. What size tank do you have and what is in it? __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry

11-11-2007, 08:07 PM	#11
Scuba Kid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RI Age: 17 Posts: 4,161	Continue with water changes. Thats about as much as you can do. You're probably not seeing the levels go down because the bacteria is continuing to consume ammonia and create nitrites. Continue with water changes to keep the levels from rising any higher and wait for the cycle to move on past this stage. __________________ Current setups: 1800 gallon koi pond, 10 gallon planted, 150 gallon reef, other FOWLR tanks

11-11-2007, 09:09 PM	#12
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,490	I agree with Katie (Scuba Kid). Keep doing the water changes... __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry

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11-11-2007, 12:52 PM	#3
valerod Fishy Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: CT Age: 26 Posts: 17	I'm doing a fish cycle, and I'm sorry but I mean nitrites. I read that nitrites above 0.75 can cause stress on the fish. Thanks

11-11-2007, 02:25 PM	#4
neilfishguy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Age: 16 Posts: 185	I would lay off the waterchanges for a day or two.

11-11-2007, 02:34 PM	#5
valerod Fishy Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: CT Age: 26 Posts: 17	any reason?

11-11-2007, 03:26 PM	#7
valerod Fishy Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: CT Age: 26 Posts: 17	10 g, 1 guppy, 1 platty, 1 swordtail

11-11-2007, 03:59 PM	#8
neilfishguy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Age: 16 Posts: 185	stop feeding (prevnt more waste) and stop waterchangeing (let the cycle do its thing without inteription for like 2-3 days.

11-11-2007, 05:13 PM	#9
Ice Prince Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Age: 15 Posts: 345	changing water doesnt interfere with the cycle process it just lowers the amount of toxins which could kill fish, unless of course you gravel vac.

11-11-2007, 05:23 PM	#10
valerod Fishy Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: CT Age: 26 Posts: 17	By letting it do it's own thing are you suggesting that if nitrites raise to toxic levels I should let it go? I don't think so. I'm aware that there is not much bacteria in the water as there is in the gravel and other surfaces. Anyway, Nobody's told me how to lower the nitrites....

11-11-2007, 10:04 PM	#13
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 39 Posts: 2,902	I agree, keep up the water changes. You need some nitrite for the bacteria to eat, but you don't need toxic levels. You can reduce feeding (skip every other meal or feed less at each), but don't stop entirely that would starve the ammonia eaters and you'd be back to square 1. If you are "seeding" your bacteria with a product like Stability or a filter squeezings from another tank, nows the time for another dose.

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