Help with aquarium nitrite!?

Question

Hey, please help out, and soon! I posted a question a short while ago on using bacteria in my tank to help deal with a recent burst of nitrite.
My tank is over a year old, with 1 male betta, 3 glass cats, and 2 albino corys. I got a new Bio-Wheel filter about a month ago, and I think that relates to my recent nitrite spike.
I have tried to do partial water changes, but so far, they are not doing too much, and nitrite remains high! Yesterday, I added a double-dose of bacteria. How long does it take for the bacteria to go into effect? My nitrite reading seems to be climbing even more, and it's really worrying me! The reading is now around 1.5 ppm.
I'm afraid of doing more partial water changes, because then I have to add more bacteria to make up for it, and I'm afraid of sucking up bacteria when I gravel vac the bottom. Should I not gravel vac and still use the partial water changes, or wait for the bacteria?
Help please!! Thanks!

Answer 1

The bacteria (if alive and the proper type) should begin working almost immediately (and definitely within hours). Sounds as if yours aren't. Is your product something from the store shelf (may have died off) or refrigerated (better)?

If you aren't using Amquel (which could give a false reading) and your fish are showing distress by gasping at the surface, you NEED to do a water change ASAP to bring the nitrite down. Your reading is about 3 times the recommended maximum level (point at which fish will begin to show signs of stress), so you may need a 50% change to begin, followed by some 25% changes in the next few days. Don't change the filter media or siphon into the gravel - just remove water at this point. Let any living bacteria have a chance to establish and work.

If your fish AREN"T showing signs of stress, you might be just getting bad readings from your water tests. Have you had a second source test your water to see if the earlier results are accurate? Your test kit may have chemicals that have gone bad (usually good for 4-5 years, tops).

Since you're using a new filter, you will have lost some bacteria from your old media, but you should have enough from your substrate to be converting at least some of the nitrite to nitrate. The only other reason I can think of for your biofilter to crash is if you've been adding too many fish, overfeeding, or used medications/chemicals (antibiotics) in the tank that would have caused the bacteria to die off suddenly - in which case, your tank is cycling again.

Answer 2

How often are you doing water changes? Don't be afraid of doing them -- it's the best thing you can do. You don't necessarily have to vacuum the bottom, unless it looks like it needs it.

That said, your bacteria (is it bio-spira?) will eventually break down the ammonia and nitrite. The reason for the spike is because you added the new filter. You should have used some of the mulm or a filter pad from the old filter, as there would have been less of a spike, or none at all.

What I would do is partial water changes of ~20-25% every two or three days until you don't notice it anymore. Don't worry about the bacteria. It just needs time to grow in your filter. By helping it out like this, you can reduce the chance of losing fish while the bacteria colony is building.
On a side note, bacteria will only break down Ammonia and Nitrite -- there is no benefical bacteria that will consume the nitrate that will spike when the nitrite goes down. Nitrate is less toxic to fish, but it can be harmful if it gets too high. The way you remove this is simply by changing water....or if you have live plants.

Answer 3

What kind of "bacteria" are you adding? Bio-Spira is the only one that actually works--things like Cycle are dead bacteria which...are dead and so are not useful anymore (duh). Bio-Spira is alive bacteria but it is a limited amount and it will take a little time to sufficiently grow enough friends to handle a tank full of nitrites and ammonia. The beneficial bacterial lives in the filter and bio-wheel, gravel, plants, anywhere it can cling to. Changing the water won't damage the bacteria so doing frequent water changes will help to keep the nitrite/ammonia until the beneficial bacteria can handle the bio-load in your tank. Also, don't use test strips because you can't tell how long they've been sitting around on the shelf and they lose their effectiveness the older they get. You can vacuum the gravel but do it lightly for a while until your tank stablizes--mostly just aim for the scuzz you can see. As some one else pointed out Amquel+ will do some strange things to your tank if you use too much. Prime is a lot more forgiving. Good luck. Too much fussing--adding more of this, more of that--will only confuse the issue. Until your tank parameters stablize, do daily water changes (25-30%) using dechlorinated water.

Answer 4

Given all your info, I would suggest you do the water change and not add any more bacteria. The bacteria should have lowered the nitrite within a few hours and instead it went up. That sounds like the bacteria is dead and as it decays in the tank it will only add to the problem. Do the water change and clean the gravel. The bacteria clings to the gravel quite well and will not be removed by a water change. I agree completely that the root cause it replacing your biowheel. Not to worry, bacteria exists in other places in the tank and will take up the slack eventually, it shouldn't be long.

MM

Answer 5

The bio-wheel is the wheel that supports benificial bacteria that you are talking about. It gives the bacteria a place to cling on to, but it takes up to 2 weeks for the bacteria to become stable. Are you using tap water? Make sure that you treat tap water with water conditioner. Tap water contains chemicals like chlorine that can be harmful to your fish and your biofilter (bacteria).

There are many manufacturers that make a powder that absorb nitrite, go to a local aquarium fish store, they can help you out, and they will have nitrite absorber, as well as many other products to help you out. Most fish stores also do water testing. Bring them a sample of your water (at least one cup[8 ounces]), and they can test it for you.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

P.S. The guy who answered above me doesn't know what he is talking about.

Answer 6

1.5 ppm of nitrite is no big deal. You need to calm down and let this tank mature. You've tinkered enough with it. The bacteria is in a spore stage. It takes a few days. Cycling means the nitrate will go up before it goes down. Same with ammonia. You tank isn't close to cycled yet and it is not going to happen instantly.

Answer 7

go to a private pet sotre ASAP and find someone who knows alot about it.
When i had a nitrate problem bacteria and a water change helped... buyt filtered water from the store... it could help too