nitrite spike

[spkdtch]

the tank has been up and running for about 3 months and suddenly i get a spike of nitrite that wont go away, ive done up to 3 water changes a day and i test directly after each, and the level stays exactly the same, my other tank has no problem, so i doubt its the test kit or the vial
its a 29gal tall, it has 2 small damsels, a 2 inch maroon clown, and a 3 inch sailfin tang, 2 filters, one for a 25 gal, another for a 14gal, and nothing else, i cut back on their feeding and it still stays the same
what else can i do to drop the nitrites, not nitrates
reading is well over 3.0, not a typo
vial turns a very dark crimson red

 

[hlcroghan]

Are you using bioballs? Also.....could your test kit be incorrect? I would try buying another one or taking it to the lfs to verify.....

 

[spkdtch]

no bioballs, and it might be the kit, im taking a sample in, in about 15 minutes before i add my new puffer
just odd how its been that high for almost a week without any drop whatsoever

 

[fishstick4sale]

if its been steady and u do water changes might b the kit. mine always stayed at .5 it was really oddd so i took my water into my LFS and it tested 0.

 

[srfisher17]

If big water changes don't lower nitrite, it almost has to be the test kit. Also, there is a lot more stuff being published that suggests nitrites aren't nearly as dangerous as I always thought they were. (in SW)
*** Please do not link other BBs -Sep

 

[spkdtch]

i believe it was the high nitrites that killed my first porc puffer, had a faulty test, misspackaged, gave me 2 of the same bottles to the color never changed
as far as it being a bad test kit, unfortunately its not, i took it to a LFS and he tested it and his jaw dropped, he double checked thinking the test was wrong too, but they were way high(didnt give me an exact number)
i think the reason is because i took the filter media out of 2 filters on that tank while running ich attack by kordon since the charcoal would absorb the medicine, so any nitrites built up in the filters was released, thats my guess
i put filter media back in today and i hope that will work since my new porc came today in the mail, look a little sick, but at least hes not DOA like wednesday when i got a shipment from SWF, hope this guy makes it

 

[fishstick4sale]

how many gallons is your tank and how much LR do u have? and LS

 

[usirchchris]

Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2978807
If big water changes don't lower nitrite, it almost has to be the test kit. Also, there is a lot more stuff being published that suggests nitrites aren't nearly as dangerous as I always thought they were. (in SW)
***
Interesting read. I always do water tests when my fish just don't seem to be acting right. Over the course of the years there have been a time or two when I attributed this to nitrites after finding no other elevated levels (aside nitrites), but this seems to suggest that it would take much higher levels than what I have ever tested. Very interesting read indeed...this cuts cycling time in half

 

[sepulatian]

I had the same thing happen when I started my tank. After a month of zero ammonia the nitrites rose to 1.0 and would not come down. I lost several fish from it as well. It is from adding too much too quickly. The ammonia was able to be broken down but there was not enough bacteria to convert the nitrite into nitrate quickly enough. The reason for the time lapse is that nitrite takes a lot longer to break down than ammonia does. There is a constant supply of ammonia being converted into nitrite quicker than the nitrite can be converted into nitrate. It will eventually come down. In the mean time keep doing water changes to reduce the nitrite. Pick up a bottle of Amquel plus. You may have to dose it daily to keep the nitrites under control, but it will help.

 

[don trinko]

Most saltwaterfish can take some nitrites for a short time.
See" Nitrite and the reef aquarium by Randy Holmes" Don T.