High nitrites

[beckyd]

I have a newly cycled angel tank. It was cycled fish-in about a month ago using Stability. Cycling was accomplished without issue and the tank has been stable, although I have been checking it a few times a week to make sure parameters are fine. Yesterday, my nitrites were sky high! I about had a heart attack, it was completely out of the blue. I performed a 50% water change, refilled, and checked it again. It was still 5. I did another 65% change and refill. They were still around 3, but I was afraid to change more. My instinct is to change it out until its acceptable and am ready to change more today. Is that what I should do? Any ideas why this happened? My ammonia is 0. How does that even make sense? I have alot of tanks, but feel pretty clueless when weird things like this happen. Any advice is truly appreciated.

My tank is 55g with 12 young, fast growing angels. They are quarter to half-dollar in size. They have blessedly not acted effected at all by this spike.

I perform weekly 50% water changes. Parameters are checked with strips, ammonia with a test kit. Water is very hard. Ph 7.6. Alkalinity is 'ideal'. The tank is not planted.

My nitrates are usually very low or do not register at all on the strips. They were high enough to measure on the strip, but well below 20.

 

[OrangeCones]

If it were me, I'd get a fish store you trust to do a water test and compare results to what you are getting. The paper test strips are known for being inaccurate, and may be expired. They often give false readings.

More accurate testing can be done with the liquid drop type, like the API Masterkit.

 

[beckyd]

Good idea. The strips are not expiread and I have always had them be comparable to test kits, just easier. However, they are not trusted for a reason. I will have it tested.

 

[OrangeCones]

I certainly sounds like you know the routine of taking care of fish, which is why I'd suspect the results. If you did a 50% water change but still showed nitrites at 5, but the fish showed no ill-effects, it does seem odd.

 

[homebunnyj]

If you did a 50% water change but still showed nitrites at 5, but the fish showed no ill-effects, it does seem odd.

Actually, she said it went from 5 down to about 3.

Yeah, you want to do w/c's until it gets down below 1. How is it today, are the nitrates starting to go down yet?

 

[sombunya]

If the water is properly treated and the temperature is close, you can change water as much and as often as you like.

I was treating an injured Bluegill and did 100% water changes every day for a week. Today the fish is as healthy as ever.

 

[beckyd]

Same yesterday.The nitrates are zero, nitrites around 3. Didn't have time to do anything with it. ( they acted like they were starving, as usual, so they are still happy little piggys) Will do a huge change tonight and get it back in range.

Question- I read a cichlidbook that suggested 50%sand 50% river rock for angels. It says the sand lets them graze food they didn't get the first time off the bottom and keeps the tank cleaner because you have less food settling where thefish can't eat it. I have pretty good sized rocks in there. My community tank has the same, but with cory cats. My angel tank doesn't have any bottom feeders.Could the old food have caused this? I bought some sand yesterday to add. I'll clean some tonight and start adding it.

 

[OrangeCones]

Actually, she said it went from 5 down to about 3.

Actually, she said it went down to 5. After another water change (65%), it went down to 3.

 

[bmoraski]

sounds like the tail end of a cycle.
i highly recommend the API Master Test KIt ( drops not strips ).
i love being able to test my water anytime i want, or need.
but make sure you read the directions carefully !

 

[beckyd]

Hm, the end of a cycle. That makes sense. I will get the test kit. I am paranoid now.

I put sand in the tank. It will definitely result in less food wasting in the rocks. The fish go down and pick up every little thing they missed on top.