Nitrite Question

[artemisblossom]

I am at the part of the cycle where the nitrites have spiked in my 55 gal tank. I do daily water changes but it soars between 2-5ppm over night what do you thik of adding something to the tank to make the nitrite less harmful to the fish? I see several things that claim to do this at my lfs

[bluekrissyspikes]

i'd be careful of what you are adding to the tank chemical wise. how many fish do you have living in the tank and what kind are they? are you doing regular water changes? treating the water with declorinator? there isn't really much you can do other than a few small water changes to keep the numbers down because it is part of the cycle and your tank needs to go through it in order to finish cycling. it may be that there are too many fish in there too soon in the cycle. need more info.

[Lady Hobbs]

Salt during the nitrite stage can help with gill function. It's not the nitrite stage so much that's the danger but the long term of nitrites. The faster it's over with, the better for them. I would add nothing to mess with them but would just keep up with those water changes so the water doesn't become too toxic. Add just enough salt for compensate for what you are removing.

It will keep rising then suddenly start going down and then will disappear nearly over night.

[artemisblossom]

I have a 55 gal tank, 6 platies, 2 small diamond tetras, 2 tiny fry and 2 golden mystery snails. I have had these fish since I started the tank in May. I use well water so i don't have to add any dechlorinator, the temp is usually around 79degrees and I remove about 50% of the water daily in the water changes. I have a few live plants in the tank also ph is 8, ammonia 0, nitrites 2-5ppm and nitrates a little less than 10

[Lady Hobbs]

I don't think you need to remove nearly that much water. Maybe 20% every other day. Your nitrites aren't really that high and you have a lot of water so it shouldn't get too toxic.

[Alfcea]

Those chemicals that are being sold to remove nitrites are basically oxidants that transform the nitrites into nitrates. They do exactly the same thing that nitrospira bacteria will do naturally.... but the bacteria is free and more effective! There would be nothing wrong with adding the chemical, but you would definitely slow down the growth of the nitrospiras since you would be quickly and completely removing their food! If your tank is not too populated and you keep up with your water changes, you will get through this stage safely. Good luck!

[Luna]

I have a few live plants in the tank also ph is 8, ammonia 0, nitrites 2-5ppm and nitrates a little less than 10

Can you have a KH or GH test done?

Correct me if I'm mistaken, but hard water generally has the same effect on nitrites that salt will.

Also, and this is a personal opinion, I think you are better off doing the larger water changes. I don't have the brain power at the moment to explain it, though. hehe