Help with nitrites!

[emmaparsonsm]

Hi I am a beginner and stupidly today purchased 4 platys when my cycle isn’t complete. I have no ammonia but 2.0 ppm nitrites and I have a healthy amount of nitrates. I did a 50% water change earlier today and added some stability. I’ve added the fish and noticed this evening them gulping for air. I have then panicked and done a 20% water change this evening and again added more stability. The nitrite levels have not changed with the water changes. Tomorrow I am getting some filter media from a friend to help get the cycle moving faster but what can I do in the meantime? I feel awful incase my fish die!

 

[Andy Sager]

Hi I am a beginner and stupidly today purchased 4 platys when my cycle isn’t complete. I have no ammonia but 2.0 ppm nitrites and I have a healthy amount of nitrates. I did a 50% water change earlier today and added some stability. I’ve added the fish and noticed this evening them gulping for air. I have then panicked and done a 20% water change this evening and again added more stability. The nitrite levels have not changed with the water changes. Tomorrow I am getting some filter media from a friend to help get the cycle moving faster but what can I do in the meantime? I feel awful incase my fish die!

The best you can do is get the fish OUT of that water. Set up a bucket or other tank with clean water with an air stone so the fish have clean water to start with. It usually takes about a week for a decent amount of water to show ammonia levels that are toxic to the fish. By then, your tank should have cycled using the friend's media. If not, do water changes in the bucket so you dilute the ammonia. There are products that are supposed to detoxify nitrites and ammonia but to be honest, there's not much proof that they work. The best thing is to get the fish out of the bad water a.s.a.p.

Hope this helps.

 

[emmaparsonsm]

The best you can do is get the fish OUT of that water. Set up a bucket or other tank with clean water with an air stone so the fish have clean water to start with. It usually takes about a week for a decent amount of water to show ammonia levels that are toxic to the fish. By then, your tank should have cycled using the friend's media. If not, do water changes in the bucket so you dilute the ammonia. There are products that are supposed to detoxify nitrites and ammonia but to be honest, there's not much proof that they work. The best thing is to get the fish out of the bad water a.s.a.p.

Hope this helps.

They do seem okay this morning, very active and I have tried a tiny flake of food and they all ate! I’m going to monitor today I did test again and the only parameter which is high is nitrite still. I might try some prime and aquarium salt to, as well as the friends media, plus another 50% water change and if I see some deterioration and more gasping will follow ur advice! Thankyou

 

[Andy Sager]

They do seem okay this morning, very active and I have tried a tiny flake of food and they all ate! I’m going to monitor today I did test again and the only parameter which is high is nitrite still. I might try some prime and aquarium salt to, as well as the friends media, plus another 50% water change and if I see some deterioration and more gasping will follow ur advice! Thankyou

From the sounds of it, your test results are a little mixed up. You should not be having " healthy" amounts of nitrates if you have that much nitrite. I'd confirm your readings with either another test or another person/ shop.

 

[emmaparsonsm]

From the sounds of it, your test results are a little mixed up. You should not be having " healthy" amounts of nitrates if you have that much nitrite. I'd confirm your readings with either another test or another person/ shop.

I’ve tested on another kit as well as my API one and nitrates always come out at 10 and nitrites 2 ppm. I was originally cycling with fish food and I reckon I was adding to much and nitrite converting bacteria are there but not enough to catch up. I just hope I don’t kill the fish with my stupidity!!

 

[Andy Sager]

I’ve tested on another kit as well as my API one and nitrates always come out at 10 and nitrites 2 ppm. I was originally cycling with fish food and I reckon I was adding to much and nitrite converting bacteria are there but not enough to catch up. I just hope I don’t kill the fish with my stupidity!!

The problem is the microbe that produces nitrates, uses the nitrites to make them so you have to have a decrease in nitrites to make nitrates. Make sure your tap water ( or source water) does not have nitrates in it. That's about the only way I know to have both high nitrites and a rising nitrate level.