Anyone help with sky high Nitrite problem ??

Question

I've a jewel rekford 120 40X15X12 120 Litres:
Fish: 11 just small tropicals eg: guppys, swordtails,3 " plec , and a pair of small kribs..
Ok tanks been up and running for around 8 weeks ive had no problem for the first 6 weeks, now bang super high Nitrite its around 5.0 - 6.0 ppm (mg/L)
ammonia is virtually 0
Nitrate between 0 - 5.0 ppm
PH 7.4

My tap water source has 0 Nitrite as expected and is treated with safe water before using to remove any chlorine or cholramines etc ...
As soon as the tanks full after the 50% water change the Nitrite shows off the scale again when tested ..
I dont over feed just enough to be consumed within a couple of minutes twice a day and the fish seem happy and nothing is gasping for air,no tight fins to body etc etc .
Tank has a few plastic plants rock formations a little slate and two small pot flowerpots, i've an additional air supply going into the tank as well as the large jewel filtration system as standard. HELP :(

My other tanks test fine with no nitrite showing up at all so i doubt its the test kit, kit is only 2 months old and well in date still .. and i do have a carbon pad in the jewel filter ..
i will try taking a sample to be independently tested elsewhere , only new thing ive added a few weeks ago was sum bogwood,it was soaked for days and the water tested fine the weekend after adding it ..

You've all given me new ideas to try so thanks for your help i'll buy sum stress zyme soon as aquatics opens in the morning..

thanx again

Answer 1

I'm also prone to thinking that your tank needs more biological filtration. Eight weeks is not all that long and it is quite possible that your tank has not fully cycled yet. Keep doing water changes until the problem is under control.

Also, you can protect your fish from nitrite damage by adding non-iodized salt at the rate of one teaspoon per five gallons of water. The salt will protect the fish from nitrite damage. Pickling salt works great. Just make sure that the salt does not contain iodine or anti-caking ingredients.

"Salt reduces the toxic effect of the nitrites by allowing the uptake of oxygen. The salt contains electrolytes that are essential for the uptake of oxygen, the release of carbon dioxide and ammonium across the gill membranes. So, it appears that nitrites are toxic for the fish's gills and the salt is a temporary relief until the nitrites can be reduced to a non-toxic level."

You might try adding some established filtration or gravel or rocks from one of your other, cycled tanks. Large rocks will serve as a place for beneficial bacteria to grow.

It's a frustrating situation. Salt and small daily water changes will protect your fish until your tank is fully cycled. Good luck.

Answer 2

It does sound like a false reading if your fish aren't reacting - and at a level of 5-6 they sould be reacting!

Do you use any products such as Amquel in your tank? This is supposed to neutralize ammonia and nitrites, but it won't remove them from the tank and they'll still show up in your testing. I'd also suspect your testing method/chemicals, especially if the kit is more than 4-5 years old. Have you taken a sample to a pet/fish store for an independent test to compare with your results? If you're using a liquid test, try cleaning the tube out well and rinsing it with water from the tank and double-check your results - also shake any liquid reagents to make sure they're well-mixed.

Answer 3

The severe nitrites exhibits a stall interior the fishless cycle. A low dose of Sodium bicarbonate will furnish the carbonates the micro organism require to technique the nitrites to nitrates. you're able to desire to improve the kH & shop on till the nitrites are 0 -this could take a week or 3 weeks. It feels like the ammonia source isn't consistent - shop dosing to maintain the ammonia at 4ppm or upload a frozen shrimp ( in a internet bag) in line with ten gallons so the 1st point micro organism shop going. What dechlorinator have you ever used? -a number of those can foul up the ammonia readings. in case you upload fish now they're going to die.

Answer 4

It may be a problem with your test kit. Try getting a new one....

Otherwise, you may not have enough nitrogen metabolizing bacteria in your tank, since it is a relatively new system.

If this is the case, the first thing you want to do is add activated carbon or charcoal to your filter, and change it every few days. The charcoal will absorb excess nitrogen compounds.

Second, you probably want to get some sort of biological tank conditioner, such as "Stress-zyme", or "Poly-Ox"....
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/cat/infoL3/23057/category.web

Another thing you might try, is to get a small amount of wet sand or gravel from a local river or stream. This will innoculate your tank with naturally occuring nitrifying bacteria....

Good luck,
~Soylent Yellow

Answer 5

your nitrite test kit is probably expired, check the bottle. If the fish are not stressed, don't freak about it, just get a different nitrite test kit. Theres no way nitrite should go UP after a water change!

Answer 6

Sounds like your possibly getting false readings due to that water addative. Try doing a water change with R/O water from your LFS costs about 50 cents per gallon. If that dont work maybe you fish have the runs or something. You could try adding bio spira to help break it down but dont take me as your final word im a salt water guy. But it sounds as if you have false readings.

Answer 7

it must eithe rbe your test kit or somthing is wrong with the nitrogen cycle. if the ammonia and nitrates are low then either the nitogen cycle is just starting, or chemicals were added that killed bactiria that change nitites to nitrates. i would recomend not adding chemicals to aquarium water. i have not used water diclorinators and other chemicals for over 4 years now, use regular tap water and my fish are thriving.