Nitrite in my Qt

[katfish50]

I posted earlier in the week with concerns from my SWF purchase of a Madarin. Beth set me straight and I did some partial water changes in my 20 gal. QT tank. This morning I got a .05mg/1(ppm) reading using my liquid Tropic Marin test. I vacuumed out the bottom of my tank and did about a 10% water change...my fish is so no signs of stress...in fact his fungas seems to be improving. Any suggestions on what else I should do other than keep cleaning and changing water?

 

[beth]

Yep, this is the hazzards of not running a QT full-time. If the water is good quality in your display tank, use it to change out the water from your QT, then replace the fresh mixed water in the main tank. This way, you will be seeding your QT with established water from the display, which should lessen the load on the new QT.
How's the mandarin doing with the discoloration?
Good Luck!

 

[barracuda]

I use the same test kit. That's Tropic Marin Nitrite/Nitrate in one set, isn't it. At the same time i have Red Sea Nitrite test kit. Ones, i measured with Red Sea test kit my established tank and got 0 reading of N02. I remeasured with tropic Marin and got 0.05.
Strange, isn't it?
Anyway, i trust Tropic Marin test kits more than i trust Red Sea.
But 0.05ppm of NO2 in established tank...???

 

[katfish50]

Thanks Beth I do my weekly tank cleaning on Thursday and you confirmed my plan to move my water from the established to the QT tank. The Madarin is doing much better still a slight trace on one side but not like before. Will he be able to eat in the QT? He's been in there a week today and I planned on leaving him in for 3 weeks total...I don't want him to starve while he cures his fungas and I'm afraid the prime reef that falls to the bottom that he seems to be eating will continue to Nitrite level the tank...any suggestions? will he eat brine? or anything else than pods?

 

[beth]

This is the problem with mandarins. Is he eating now? Can you try target feeding him using a syringe with some vitimin soaked brine shrimp. Do you have access to live brine shrimp?
You might want to add a stress coat product now.

 

[katfish50]

Beth,
I first just want to tell you that I appreciate your timely response. I really have a love for the lives of all the fish I adopt. I have never taken to a hobby so passionately.... not even golf (smile). I read all I can read and watch this message board for info. daily. The confidence I get as a new hobbiest and the pleasure my family and myself get from our saltwater tank is something one can't imagine, and has to experience. I could ramble on...but I won’t. I put some live brine in this morning he appeared to be going for it. What stress coat product do you suggest?