I have a 10-gallon freshwater aquarium with about 5 small (2") fish. I have an excellent biological filter set up (zero amonia, very low nitrate level), however, I noticed last night that my nitrite level is a little higher than it should be. What is the best way to lower it?
2006-11-22 03:42:01 · 8 answers · asked by Elsa 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
People seem to have mixed luck with nitrite removers, and no one I know has found one that works, so I would hold off on adding anything to the aquarium that might further mess up the balance. Do 10% - 20% water changes daily to try to get the levels down, and feed your fish a lot less, and only every other day (they will be fine, this will reduce the waste that the nitrifying bacteria have to deal with, so that it can "focus" on the nitrite). Also, add 1 tablespoon of freshwater aquarium salt per 5 gallons of water. This will reduce the amount of nitrites that your fish absorb, so that they can survive the higher levels of nitrite until you can get them lowered.
2006-11-22 04:50:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Are you certain your test results are right? What happens in a planted tank is that the plants will USE the ammonia, so there shouldn't be much left to be converted to nitrite. And the bacterial process to change nitrite to nitrate happens faster then changing ammonia to nitrite, so that would also prevent nitrite from building up. Maybe you stirred up some material from the bottom and tested too soon after you did the water change, or didn't clean out the tube well enough from a previous test. Try doing your test again to see if you get the same results. If you do, test the water you use to fill up your tank to see if any nitrite is present there. You can lower the level by doing water changes as long as there aren't any nitrites showing up in your water that you use to fill the tank. And even with plants to help remove the waste, your tank is overstocked. The barbs and probably the loach, which both should be in larger groups, the opaline gourami, and the pleco will all need to be moved to something larger in the future.
2016-03-29 05:33:53 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ann has the best answer yet. Stay away from those "instant cures", they are a waste of money. Water changes, and let the tank cycle thoroughly. My only addition to Ann's answer is if you know someone that has a cycled tank, and can spare some water, use that as a water change. It may speed up the process and even the nitrites, nitrates, ammonia and PH out to an acceptable level for your fish. Aquarium salt is a good way to "toughen" up your fish, so they aren't as affected by the increase and decrease of the different levels. All tanks go through cycles, and most times they will go back to normal in a few days, when the cycle is complete.
2006-11-22 05:40:30 · answer #3 · answered by just me 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Did you let the tank cycle?
The cycle starts out with a high level of ammonia, then the nitrites spike, and lastly nitrates.
If you have let it cycle, I'd recommend doing 5-10% water changes daily, or 20% weekly.
You can also get the nitrite removers stores sell, but for some reason I don't trust those. Anyway, when you buy the product, make sure you can use it when there are fish in the tank.
2006-11-22 04:44:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd have to disagree that you have an "excellent biological filter set up" since you have detectable nitrite readings.
The best way to lower your nitrite level is to allow time for your tank to completely cycle (a fully cycled tank will consistently have 0ppm ammonia and 0ppm nitrite levels).
In a fully established tank nitrites are kept at 0ppm by 2nd-stage beneficial bacteria and not chemicals (the bacteria process nitrite into nitrate as fast as it is produced).
2006-11-22 11:26:45 · answer #5 · answered by Kay B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with ann and jeann, but i would warn that is you have any cat fish, pleco, cory cats, or similar fish, you don't want to put salt in the aquarium, b/c they can't handle it.
As far as using chemicals to alter the nitrites, it's not a good idea, if you use them, you will slow down or stop your cycle. The only way to get a well balanced tank is to go through the "nitrogen cycle" and this is best done without using chemicals to alter the levels of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate!
~J~
2006-11-22 05:58:28 · answer #6 · answered by timesdragonfly 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Try doing a 20% water change and add nitrite remover. You can find this at a local pet store!
Good Luck!
2006-11-22 04:26:47 · answer #7 · answered by ashley_chance21 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Ann. You could also put live plants. They help with lowering nitrates.
2006-11-22 14:02:38 · answer #8 · answered by roxanne 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋