I have 3 mollies that died from the nitrites that had gone wacko. The strange thing is, the guppies showed no signs of rising nitrites and were the same as they always were but the mollies just lay on the bottom and were dying. I did not know what to do. I have taken the remaining fish to a friend's house so i can get my tank sorted. How do i get rid of the nitrites with the tank empty???
2007-02-17 02:27:14 · 5 answers · asked by Charlotte 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Do a 50% water change it let set for a couple of days then check levels. Nitrites are caused by fish waste or excess food first becoming ammonia then nitrites. Cleaning your tank more often including a 25% water change will help. Also a bottom filter will help. Do a 50% water change it let set for a couple of days then check levels. Its probably time to consider a larger tank.
2007-02-17 07:18:02 · answer #1 · answered by Gene B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The nitrites are a waste product of nitrosoma bacteria. They eat even more deadly ammonia that is excreated by the fish. When you start the tank, it has an initial ammonia spike. Then the nitrosomas build up and ammonia plummets as nitrites rise. That is where nitrobacter comes in. They eat nitrite and make nitrate- a relitively harmless stuff that comes out with H2O changes. From the stage you are at, it will take a week, maybe two, to get the nitrites down. You can add some bacteria culture from a pet store to accelerate the proccess or you can use a hadful of cultured gravel from a "cycled" aquarium. It takes about 4 - 5 weeks from start to finish to completely cycle a tank naturally. During this time, only use the strongest of fish and limit yourself to 1/2 tank capacity and feed 1/2 normal amount. When you say "empty", I assume that means no fish. If you drained the tank, you will have to start the whole cycle over again. Good luck. jason (Phoenix Phish Care)
2007-02-17 02:48:41 · answer #2 · answered by Magic Mouse 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fishless cycle. Assuming you didn't dump the water, you should have a good start on ammonia. Feed the tank a little daily as if you have fish yet, this will give off enough for the cycle to continue. Did you clean out the filter or something recently that caused a mini cycle?
2007-02-17 02:44:43 · answer #3 · answered by bzzflygirl 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can go to
www.what are nitrites in fish tank?
OR
http://fresh aquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/nitritepoison.htm
hope this helps to fix you problem.
2007-02-17 02:48:42 · answer #4 · answered by sadie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GET A NEW TANK STUPID ITS ONLY LIKE 30 BUCKS
2007-02-17 04:18:38 · answer #5 · answered by midgetlover108 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋