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NitrIte spike!

3K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  Twistersmom 
#1 ·
Ugh!

Just do a water change, right? Only, I measured my tap water and it's 0.5ppm in nitrIte. So is my new tank. For 24 hours the level hasn't changed. I've always tested water before a change so I never knew the tap water had nitrIte in it until now. So I don't know if this is new in the tap water or not.

Ammonia is 0, nitrAte is 10ppm. This is a new cycled tank with filter media from my old tank in it (that tank was up for 10+ years with all of the fish that are now in the new tank).
I found this during routine testing. Outwardly, the fish are coping well.

I tested my 5 gallon which is several years old and it's at 0 for nitrite. I guess the newer tank isn't ready to cope with the nitrites from fish and the water.


How much of a pH swing can the bacteria handle? normal pH is 7.6-7.8. I added CO2 a week ago which brought it to 7.2.

I feel kinda trapped. I can't do a water change or else it introduces more nitrite. It's a big tank and I can't buy enough water to make a dent in the nitrItes.

I decreased their feedings. Anything else to do?
 
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#3 ·
Another solution for you may be to get your water elsewhere (i.e. buy it at a wine making store or something like that) to ensure that you are getting water that does not contain nitrites/nitrates/ammonia. Of course that can become a bit of a hassle in itself. I'd say that if your fish are coping well, don't change anything.
 
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