Frenchie
20-05-2008, 10:37 PM
We have recently set up a new tank and have 5 small fish in it.
We have tested the water and the nitrite levels are high.
We have added some natural bacteria and have also added a Nitra-zorb sachet and have done several partial water changes but the levels aren't coming down.
This has been going on for about 3 weeks now. Has anyone got any advice or ideas as this is the first time we have kept fish.
mike84
20-05-2008, 10:52 PM
did you cycle the tank before adding the fish??
small regular water changes (every few days), reduce the amount you are feeding, 5 fish = 5 flakes or pellets once perday until the levels are down. Other than that there is not much you can do.
There are chemicals that say that they can reduce levels nitrite, but i have never used so not sure if they work or not.
Frenchie
20-05-2008, 11:14 PM
Yes the tank was running for a week before we added any fish.
We are only feeding a few flakes each day, we keep doing small changes but no joy. :huh:
Want to get it sorted so we can get some more fish, tank looks really empty.
mike84
21-05-2008, 10:51 AM
i wouldnt get any more fish for at least 6 - 8 weeks. what fish are in at the moment? you should have had the tank and filter running longer than a week, it doesn't seem as if your tank has had time to mature and the benificial bacteria get to a level that will keep the tank healthy.
see this link for more advise
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=113
Dark Moomin
21-05-2008, 11:30 AM
Mike gives good advice. Your tank is currently cycling and will have to have nitrite present for some time while the de nitrifying bacteria develop in your filter.
All you can do is keep doing the changes and I'd probably only feed every other day too.
Just running the tank is not enough to cycle it, you need to provide an ammonia source in order to start the cycle off, in your case this source was the fish.
What sort of fish are they?
When you have had zero nitrite and ammonia for a few weeks you can get more fish, but only get a few at a time or the increased biological load will cause a mini cycle and you will have to go back through the cycling process again.