Nitrites in my fry tank.

[solsort_dk]

Hi everyone.

To make a long story as short as possible. I have high nitrites in my fry tank.

I had my water tested at the LFS on Friday, and it was above 0,2ppm. So I bought a german nitrite testset JBL. On Saturday my API master set finally arrived so I can check everything.

I was also told to use Tetra Aqua Bactozym. A little with every large WC. We dont have Prime and all those things in Denmark.

On Friday evening I got the nitrites down to 0,1 with a 75% WC, and Saturday and Sunday I managed to keep them at 0,05 with two 75% WC each day.

I just tested again today. Its 0,05, no ammonia, no nitrates, ph is 8, tank and tap. We dont use conditioner in our water either as its safe from the tap. (I have checked it and its not got nitrites)

Ive lost 6 of the tiny babies over these days, so Im down to 9 fry now, almost all of them 5½ weeks old. All the ones I lost were smaller ones.

Most of them seem fine. I feed them less than I used to. I feed them Hikari First Bites, Sera Vipan Baby and frozen bosmides alternately.

Im about to do another 75% WC now. Of course I siphon the bottom as clean as I can get it with each WC.

Tank is 14.26 gallons and has been running almost 3 weeks, with a sponge filter. Temperature is kept at 70F.

My first question is how much I should fret with nitrites like this? Should I keep doing these two 75% WCs every day? The fry dont seem terribly stressed by the WCs, but of course they dont exactly like them.

Gosh, all this is a lot to take in. I thought I could just take the fry indoor in a tank and add a filter.. yeah right  

Thanks a lot in advance.

Hanne

[solsort_dk]

After a 75% WC I tried the API test for nitrites. Its testing 0 ppm nitrites.

My JBL which is also a liquid test makes it in between 0,025 and 0,05 ppm.

So I guess, the little guys are safe right now?

I expect the nitrites to climb up by this evening though, as I still dont have any nitrates.

So Im still wondering how high I can let the nitrites get, to stress them with as few of these big WC as possible?

Have any of you used the JBL liquid test set?

[SeaWitch]

I have never used the JBL, just the API.  As for nitrites, they are very deadly and can cause all sorts of problems, including burning of the gills.  Try to keep them as low as you can and add some aquarium salt to help the fish's gills.  As the fish are babies, I would bring the salt level up to half of .1%, which is about 7 dissolved tsps.  You also really need a good water conditioner, the best you can find.

[diakka00]

I agree with the water conditioner comment.  you can get one that can also detoxify the nitrite so its not as harmful.  just because your water has no nitrites doesnt mean it doesnt contain other harmful minerals and additives

[solsort_dk]

Thanks Nickie and Diakka.

I will try to get to a fish-shop tomorrow and ask again for the water conditioner. I did ask where I went on Friday, and I was told again that we dont use them here in Denmark, as our water is safe. We drink our water right out of the tap too everywhere in my country.

I only have salt with iodine added, so I will ask about that too.

Im really happy to tell you that both Nitrites and ammonia is still 0 tonight. Nitrates is still yellow, but has turned a much darker yellow than earlier. Maybe the rest of the bbs are beginning to work now :-)

All the fish are happy and eating right now. Even the two tiniest ones. I actually didnt think theyd make it through the day. They are still sooo small though, so I dont think they will make it in the end, but what tough little things.

So tonight the little ones will only get their vacuuming and not be stressed with the 75% WC.

I cant wait to check the water again tomorrow morning :-)

[SeaWitch]

I wish you luck, Hon.  Whatever you do, do NOT let the pet shop/fish store tell you that you don't need a water conditioner.  We drink water straight from the tap here, too, but our water can contain ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and all sort of other toxins and metals that will kill fish.

[Lolafish]

I will try to get to a fish-shop tomorrow and ask again for the water conditioner.

Can you purchase PRIME online, or a suitable similar product?  Just stock up when you find it.

[solsort_dk]

Thanks both of you.

I am adding a water conditioner now. Its also called JBL something, I dont have the bottle right here.

My nitrites are still the same, just below 0.1, so I still do the two daily waterchanges.

I must admit its really getting old now, so I have an additional questions.

Ammonia and nitrates are 0. As far as I understand my cycle must be on the way, seing I dont have ammonia, right? So will it finish cycling eventually, or are there tanks that never cycle? I can see that this sounds a bit daft when I see it in writing.
Its just that my ammonia disappeared in less than two weeks, and now its been almost three weeks with nitrites. I just want to make sure its normal, or at least not abnormal?
Im still running the sponge-filter and the tiny pump with filter. I stuffed lots of extra fitler material into the pump to get extra surface area for the BBs.

In all I would say that my nitrites are slightly less than three weeks ago, but I still dont show any nitrates in my liquid test kit, it stays a dark yellow.

Thanks for your help again.

[SeaWitch]

It is different for each person and their tank as far as how long it takes to cycle.  Most tanks will cycle, if the pH, filtration, temp., etc are optional.  On my first tank, it took me almost 6 months to cycle it.  My pH was too low for one thing.  I also did not have enough filtration on my tank.  Once I got new filters and raised my pH, it fully cycled in less than three weeks.  I had been showing ammonia for 5 months with no nitrites and only 5 nitrates (they were from my tap water).  Lastly, I was doing too many wcs.  However, with fry, you can't let the toxins build up or it will kill them.  You must keep them low.  That is why it is suggested to always put fry in a cycled tank.

It is prolly a combo of not enough filtration and doing too many wcs in your case.  Also, BBs like well-oxygenated water, too.