I have (15) 10 gallon tanks keeping Giant Bettas in. All tanks run dual sponge filters made for 30 gallon tanks Temperature is 75 to 80 PH is
7.4. I had multiple fish deaths over a 3 day period so I tested the water all but 4 tanks had Nitrite levels all of sudden spike up to 0.50 or higher the Ammonia is 0.0 and Nitrate is low 0 - 0.10. I performed 5 90% water changes
broke down and clean all 11 tanks no change found that the sponge filters were holding this anomaly. As a test I cleaned 1 tank and both sponges completely and tank is stable but without the bacteria to allow tank to cycle. The sponges in the other tanks were cleaned in their tank water as you would normally. 4 of these tanks received a sponge from one of the tanks that did cycle to spread the good bacteria. The 11 tanks also have received a dose of Prime every 48 hours *** well as Stable every day. I also added API starter bacteria to all 11 that did not cycle. This has been going on for a week with no change in the Nitrite levels. I also just added lava rock to trap additional anerobic bacteria. I now trying something I read about on 2 of the tanks 1 is getting 0.002 of 80 proof Vodka to increase carbon and the other experiment is getting 1.5 ml of 5% white vinegar started today. Does anyone have expertise with this and could offer their fix to this issue?
7.4. I had multiple fish deaths over a 3 day period so I tested the water all but 4 tanks had Nitrite levels all of sudden spike up to 0.50 or higher the Ammonia is 0.0 and Nitrate is low 0 - 0.10. I performed 5 90% water changes
broke down and clean all 11 tanks no change found that the sponge filters were holding this anomaly. As a test I cleaned 1 tank and both sponges completely and tank is stable but without the bacteria to allow tank to cycle. The sponges in the other tanks were cleaned in their tank water as you would normally. 4 of these tanks received a sponge from one of the tanks that did cycle to spread the good bacteria. The 11 tanks also have received a dose of Prime every 48 hours *** well as Stable every day. I also added API starter bacteria to all 11 that did not cycle. This has been going on for a week with no change in the Nitrite levels. I also just added lava rock to trap additional anerobic bacteria. I now trying something I read about on 2 of the tanks 1 is getting 0.002 of 80 proof Vodka to increase carbon and the other experiment is getting 1.5 ml of 5% white vinegar started today. Does anyone have expertise with this and could offer their fix to this issue?