Questions about pH, nitrite, etc.

starcollector

I did a water change tonight; I changed 20% of the water. I'm really panicking, tho', 'cos now my fish are acting weird, especially the bala sharks. Seems either the toxicity finally got to them, or something about the water change is hurting them. A partial water change is supposed to be a good thing, right?!

My nitrites are still very very high, I figure it may take awhile for them to go down after water change?? However, I'm still freaking out that it may be too little too late; why would the nitrites be so sky high? I did cycle the tank for over a week and I thought it was done. Ahhh, this is horrible! :( Even if it wasn't completely done cycling, would nitrites get that high normally??? I don't understand why that is the only thing out of whack and why I can't seem to get it under control! I thought the water change would fix the problem, at least temporarily. Can I expect to see it balance out soon??

crazie.eddie

Have you tested your water for chlorine/chloramines? If it's positive, do you add dechlorinator?

Lupin

Check your tapwater for nitrites.
In the meantime, adding half a teaspoon of salt per 10 gallons should help. Don't be hindered by myths saying table salt is toxic due to addictives and salt intolerance by other fish. Salt is much comfortable than the toxic nitrites itself. Nitrites can kill your fish but not salt.

starcollector

Thanks guys. You're the best, seriously!

This morning I was sure I was going to wake up to a tank full of dead fish. Not so. They seem to be doing okay. I did add decholorinator with the bottled water that I added; I also added some well water which does not have chlorine in it. Neither has nitrites, nitrates, or ammonia (before adding it to tank). However, the well water does have a high pH and is very hard, according to my test strips. I have added aquarium salt (from the pet store) as well, so maybe that's helped keep the fishies alive. I just hope they're not damaged too badly. I most fear for the sharks and gouramis. So does anyone know what might cause nitrites to be so high? Am I missing the second type of bacteria? I must have the first at least, 'cos my ammonia levels are in check.

crazie.eddie

I think you did add the fish too quickly...5 weeks for the tank and 3.5 weeks with the fish.

Your filtration may not be sufficient. Reduce the feedings a bit. What model filter are you using?

starcollector

I'm sure you're right, too many fish too fast. My nitrites, etc. were okay when I first added them, and I did so in stages, but maybe still too fast. My main question is, what causes the nitrites, and will I see them balance out eventually??!! I'm doing water changes religiously every day but not seeing my nitrites affected. I've now lost 2 more fishies. :0( I feel like a total noob!

Lupin

Conversion done by bacteria:
Ammonia->nitrites->nitrates.

I may have miss on this question. But have you cycled the tank? If you haven't(now that you have fish), you have to concentrate on making sure ammonia and nitrites are at zero as both are toxic to the fish. Ammonia is more toxic if pH is high.

Oceane

I think that your tank hadn't finished cycling when you added the fish. the Nitrogen cycle takes 36 days. You probably got to the part where ammmonia is converted to nitrites which will then be converted to nitrates which will then be absorbed by plants. Doing small water changes might help the fish survive or else you could get a starter kit with bacteria. I know they exist but have never used one.

Lupin

Oceane, cycling doesn't really finish in a specific number of days. It can vary. Some were able to finished cycling in just 10 days. If it were 36, then it appears that cycling may have been stalled several times.

starcollector

I thought mine was done cycling in about 12 days. I did it without fish, and then I added them slowly, starting with mollies. Things seemed okay up until last week, when I suddenly saw a spike in the nitrites. Despite religious water changes every day, they are STILL very high. Ammonia, nitrates, pH... they are all within range. I am getting so panicky that the nitrites will NOT go lower, even after I change 25% of the water! (Yes, I tested the water I'm putting in - it has 0 nitrites). Can I expect the bacteria to form (apparently it wasn't there to begin with, altho' all my stats were low a few weeks ago)?