What is the cause of high Nitrites and what can i do to make mine go down?

Answer 1

Lack of water changes. Do a 25% water change. If needed, wait a day and do a 2nd. Should solve the problem.

Answer 2

Nitrites are a part of the nitrogen life cycle in every aquarium. Fish waste, uneaten food, dead stuff decays producing ammonia. Bacteria then converts the ammonia to nitrites. More bacteria convert the nitrites to nitrates. The bacteria lives in sand beds, rocks, filter pads, etc. If your tank is new it is most likely cycling. In a new tank you will see a high spike of ammonia then nitrites then nitrates will go up. Eventually as you tank matures you ammonia and nitrites will stay at 0 while your nitrates will slowely climb. Other factors can really affect nitrites as well.

If you are overfeeding the excess food could be decaying with not enough bacteria to convert it to nitrates fast enough. Fish should only be fed what than can eat in 3 min.

Another reason you could be getting nitrites is to many fish in the tank for its size. 1 inch of fish per gallon is the most you can have. Or possibly putting in too many fish at once. If you put a lot of fish in there at once the bacteria has to grow to catch up basically starting a new cycle in the aquarium.

If this is a new tank the bacteria will catch up and rid it of nitrites on it's own. The cycle is very stressful to fish and can sometimes kill them.

The end result of nitrates is removed by water change outs, live plants, and algae. Water changes being the most effective.

Answer 3

Nitrites are an intermediate step by bacteria in converting ammonia to nitrate. One type of bacteria converts ammonia to nitrite and another will convert the nitrite to nitrate - the only chemical that isn't toxic to your fish.

You must have a fairly new tank that hasn't built up a population of the second bacteria, or you've used medications recently in an older one that have affected the bacterial population in your tank. At any rate, you tank is in a cycling process that can take from a few weeks to two months to complete.

For now, the best way to reduce them is with a 25% water change.

Answer 4

Nitrites are a natural result of fish waste (excrement) the GOOD bacteria in your tank turns these into Nitrates which is great for garden plants and grass.

Change half the water in the tank
and treat the new water with Tapsafe or similar

Answer 5

I assume you mean in an aquarium since you posted this to the pets>fish section. high nitrites are the middle step of the ammonia cycle in a new aquarium. Fist the ammonia goes up, then bacteria convert that to nitrite and it goes up, then bacteria convert that to nitrate, which hangs out in the tank until you remove it or it's used by plants or algae. Water changnes will be the best way to control it until your nitrogen cycle catches up.

MM

Answer 6

For temporary measure, use salt. Chloride in salt can netralize the nitrite. Also add live aquatic plants. For long term, provide ideal environment for beneficial bacteria to grow to convert nitrite to nitrate. Based on my experience, the bacteria can grow easily on small rounded gravels with average 3mm diameter in the bottom of the tank.

Answer 7

It sounds like your fish tank is cycling. It is best to reduce the amount of Nitrites is by doing water changes until your tanks has finished cycling. But if you would like to cycle your tank faster I would buy some Bio Spira.

Answer 8

Stop eating foods that contain them. Processed lunch meats, canned ham, bacon, sausage,& some canned fish have high amounts of Nitrites in them. Start checking the labels. Also, many restaurants use a solution to retard spoilage & keep their lettuce looking fresh & I understand that this solution has a high nitrate & nitrite content, but the industry may have changed the contents of the lettuce solution that they once used.

Answer 9

do you eat alot of processed meats? alot of Nitrites there