Tropical Fish Keeping - Aquarium fish care and resources

Tropical Fish Keeping - Aquarium fish care and resources (http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/)

- Freshwater Aquarium (http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/freshwater-aquarium/)

- - nitrite issue (http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/freshwater-aquarium/nitrite-issue-98253/)

Help ! dont know how to work this forum either. My nitrites and nitrates are off the chart !

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byron (Post 1039836)

The advice from the fish store for once was pretty good. Daily or alternate day water changes are advisable until ammonia and nitrite is zero and remains zero. Using Prime at each water change will allow you to do them on alternate days since the detoxifying effect of Prime lasts 36-48 hours. Tests like the API will still show ammonia or nitrite, as you've noticed, even with Prime.

I also agree with Seachem's advice to use Stability. This is 100% live bacteria and it will quicken the establishment of the nitrifying bacteria.

Another helpful aid are live plants, especially fast growing ones. The Elodea is good, being a stem plant, this is fast growing and will pull lots of ammonia from the water. More plants, especially floating plants, would help further.

And, welcome to Tropical Fish Keeping forum.:-)

Byron.

Can anyone advise. nitrites off the chart !

I moved your posts to start a new thread.

As I just responded to your profile question on this issue, I'll copy over my response so others will know what was said.

The only way to deal with nitrites during cycling is with water changes, 50% of the tank each change, and daily if nitrites still show above zero. If you are using Prime or Ultimate as water conditioners (these two both detoxify nitrite, others don't) then you can do alter day changes as the conditioners are effective for 36-48 hours. Tests will still show nitrites since the detoxified form reads the same.

The best way to "cycle" is with live plants. Lots of fast growing plants such as floating plants and/or stem plants especially, will assimilate the ammonia from fish fast, and the beauty of plants over bacteria is that nitrite is not produced by plants taking up ammonia. This is the only safe way to cycle with fish in the tank, plenty of live plants.

Byron.

what is a thread ?

Hi new to forum. Dont understand "thread."
Angel Lover 247

a thread is simply a topic. you started a thread about high nitrites.