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need help with high nitrites

Discussion in 'Aquarium Equipment & Decor' started by Anonymous, Nov 16, 2008.

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  1. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    Nitrite problem

    All right I don't know what else to do. My girlfriend has a 10 gallon FW with 3 platties a molly and two small cory cats. The nitrite is off the charts! We have done the water changes, we have added everything we could possibly add, we have tried to let the tank continue to cycle and still today the nitrites are extremely high. We tested the water before it went in the tank and nitrites were zero. I was gonna try one more thing. If I take water out of one of my 55g (water conditions great right now) and do a 50% water change into hers will that work? I will take any suggestions right about now. The molly is not doing good today.
     
    Anonymous, Nov 16, 2008
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  2. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    How long has the tank been running ?

    Adding established water won't help much, if at all with nitrite problems. Water holds very little beneficial bacteria.

    You could take some of the substrate from your tanks and place it in a media bag then place it in her tank in a filter or near a power head.

    Have you tried adding Seachem Prime to the water to neutralize the nitrites ?
     
    Anthony, Nov 16, 2008
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  3. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    It's been up for about 6 weeks. the fish have been in for about 3 weeks and the parameters were fine before we put the fish in and we only put 2 platies in at first.

    We did add something the other day from PetSmart but don't remember the name. I'll get it from her and find out.

    Are smaller tanks harder to maintain? Could it be her filter?
     
    Anonymous, Nov 16, 2008
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  4. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    What are the other water parameters ? (Ammonia and nitrate)

    With freshwater, no.

    I doubt it's her filter. The tank is likely still cycling.
     
    Anthony, Nov 16, 2008
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  5. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    PH was 6.8, nitrates were 20 (safe), nitrites 5( danger), total hardness 75(soft), alkalinity is 120(ideal)
     
    Anonymous, Nov 16, 2008
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  6. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    What about ammonia ?
     
    Anthony, Nov 16, 2008
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  7. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    Its 0.5 (stressed) she put the ammonia tabs in friday and it still hasn't come down.
     
    Anonymous, Nov 16, 2008
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  8. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    The tank isn't cycled.
    Continue to do daily water changes of about 50%. She should really get some Seachem Prime if she doesn't already have it.
     
    Anthony, Nov 16, 2008
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  9. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    Ok I will tell her. How long should she do daily water changes?
     
    Anonymous, Nov 16, 2008
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  10. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Until the tank is cycled. Ammonia and nitrites will zero out when the cycle is complete.
     
    Anthony, Nov 16, 2008
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  11. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    what is the filter? how often does she clean the filter?
     
    Anonymous, Nov 16, 2008
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  12. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    Ok. We will give it a shot! Thanks for the help!
     
    Anonymous, Nov 16, 2008
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  13. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    I believe it's a Whisper 10. She cleaned it early last week. Actually she replaced it, which I don't think she should of done. Is that correct?
     
    Anonymous, Nov 16, 2008
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  14. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    The filter can be rinsed off in old tank water to remove debris but not replaced. When she did that any beneficial bacteria that colonized on it was lost.
     
    Anthony, Nov 16, 2008
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  15. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    Yea thats what i thought. Thanks!
     
    Anonymous, Nov 16, 2008
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  16. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    yeah, she basically restarted the entire cycling process.
     
    Anonymous, Nov 16, 2008
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  17. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    woman!
     
    Anonymous, Nov 16, 2008
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  18. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    :) Be careful, there are women on this forum. They may form a group and attack.
     
    Anthony, Nov 16, 2008
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  19. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    Yea true! I apologize to all the women here. Please don't attack!
     
    Anonymous, Nov 16, 2008
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  20. Anonymous

    Anonymous Thread Starter Guest

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    nah, they are too busy messing things up to unite ;)

    Only Joking!!!
     
    Anonymous, Nov 16, 2008
    #20
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