nitrite level high

[uwmck]

In my 10 gallon i have one pericula clown being treated for ich and two damsels with no diseases, the nitrite level is at around 3.0 which says its a little high. How do i lower the nitrite level, all other levels are okay? Im in the process of hyposalinity, specific gravity is 1.018 lowering it more in the morning, any other suggestions for treating my clown, he only has a mild case w/ a few ich spots as of now? Thanks

 

[uwmck]

I meant i have am using a 10 gallon QT hospital tank ...sorry

 

[elfdoctors]

Is this tank new? If it is, you may be having a cycle. Either way you probably have too many fish in a tank that size (usually no more than 1 inch per 5 gallons). Using some water from your display tank (and possibly a small piece of live rock that you can sacrifice or a small amount of substrate can get some beneficial bacteria to break down the nitrites. Regular large water changes will also lower nitrites.
Be careful. I had a similar situation to yours and lost 4 of 6 fish early on in the process because of nitrite poisoning. After the bioload was decreased the survivors tolerated hypo well and seem cured of ich.

 

[uwmck]

This is a quarantine tank,it has substrate and a filter that has been set up previously(has good bacteria) whole qt tank has been set up for almost a month. I am quarantining three fish two small damsels and one really small percula clown before they go in my display tank. Im wondering what i should feed the clown in qt for treatment of ich, he doesnt like the prime reef flakes that much, the problem is getting him something to eat that is small enough because he's less than an inch long. Any comments about this process may help.

 

[elfdoctors]

I would probably hold feedings for a few days. This will lower tha amount of nitrogen that has to be processed and give your tank a chance to lower the nitrites. Some people only feed every other day in quarantine to avoid this problem.
Uneaten food can be a big problem. I would experiment with different foods until you found some that the clown would eat. How about brine shrimp? How about some food soaked in garlic (this stimulates appetite and may boost the immune system)?