Yesterday I done a 25% water change in a 55 gallon. Waited 24 hours and done a water test. I usually get my favorite pet store to do it but they are closed on Sundays.. My readings are as fallows
Nitrate-20
Nitrite-.5
Ph 8.4 -mine stays kind of high since my water is so hard.
This was the second water change this week. The first taking place on Wensday. I added some new fake plants that I washed well with very hot water only. This tank has been up and running for over a year. I have one young Nile puffer in the tank.
Should I do another water change? Any help would be great!
Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
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LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
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RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
Yes, you do need to be worried about that! Did you test for ammonia? Both should be zero. Do about an 80-90% water change, right now.
How big is that puffer? Any tankmates? He's probably due for an upgrade.
Welcome to the forum, by the way!
How big is that puffer? Any tankmates? He's probably due for an upgrade.
Welcome to the forum, by the way!
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Re: Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
The test kit i have doesn't have an ammonia strip, he is about 3'' long right now. I've only had him for two weeks. He has no other tank mates...should I upgrade now? or wait until he is bigger. He doesn't seem to us the tank that much he has certain spots he likes to stay unless it's feeding time. I'm going to do a water change now. A friend of mine has been helping me with him but couldn't confirm anything I'd read online. I used the tank for some smaller fish before I got this one and never had a problem. I guess it's where they are a little bit messier than the others.Thanks for your help i'm going to do another water change right now.
Will changing the water too often cause the good bacteria to die?
Will changing the water too often cause the good bacteria to die?
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
How long was the tank empty since the last fish were in there? How big is the tank? Look under all decor for rotting food.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Jivenjune
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Re: Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
Yes, also completely agree with checking with rotting food. I had some dead chaeto algae in my tank that was rotted in my filter, and it caused my nitrites to automatically shoot up from 0 to 5.0 over night. Terrible experiencePufferpunk wrote:How long was the tank empty since the last fish were in there? How big is the tank? Look under all decor for rotting food.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
I also don't give much credence to test strips. Get some good liquid test kits.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 5301
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
- Gender: Female
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RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
Not at all, unless you don't dechlorinate or use 300-degree water or something. Also, it will not remove the bacteria - nearly all of the bacteria lives on surfaces, like in the filter and substrate and on decorations.huggyface wrote:Will changing the water too often cause the good bacteria to die?
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
-
LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 5301
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)
RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
+1. Here's a good brand. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=4454Pufferpunk wrote:I also don't give much credence to test strips. Get some good liquid test kits.
Test strips are okay for an established tank where all inhabitants seem healthy and you just want to check whether nitrates are highish (emphasis on the ISH), or for similar situations. But for accurate results, you need liquid tests.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi
Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
-
Jivenjune
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 303
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:30 am
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: (2) GSPs in a 60 gallon.
- Location (country): California.
Re: Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
I have an API liquid test kit for saltwater aquariums. I got it for 22 bucks, which is a steal when considering that I bought it at a LFS. I'm not gonna lie though, it bugs the heck out of me. Sometimes, I find it near impossible to differentiate the colors. For example, the nitrite showed a purplish color, but both 1.0 and 5.0 were a purplish color. I just assumed there was no way my nitrites would be at 5.0 until I went to a LFS and had it tested. My nitrites were roughly 4+, so my estimation was clearly wrong.
Does anyone know a good brand of liquid test kits that have obvious differentiations in the color indicators?
Does anyone know a good brand of liquid test kits that have obvious differentiations in the color indicators?
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
Maybe you are slightly colorblind? I have no problems with the API nitrite test colors, even the ammonia one.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Re: Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
I took out the other fish about a week before I got the puffer fish, the tank is a 55 gallon. When I done the water change yesterday I took out some of the decor and replaced it (I washed the new stuff in hot water only) I took the vaccum thing and sucked up the sand and swirled it around to get the settled in dirt out. I didn't check the filter though!Pufferpunk wrote:How long was the tank empty since the last fish were in there? How big is the tank? Look under all decor for rotting food.
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Pufferpunk
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T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
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Re: Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
Did you "feed" the tank at all while it was empty to keep it cycled? If not, then all or most of the beneficial bacteria has starved within 1 week & your puffer is basically living in an uncycled tank. I bet there's ammonia too. I'd see if you could get some Dr Tim's to cycle that tank. DON'T LET THE SHOPS TALK YOU INTO ANY OTHER PRODUCT!!! Otherwise, do you have other established tanks around you could borrow some media from?
We have a good article about emergency cycling, in our Library.
We have a good article about emergency cycling, in our Library.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Re: Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
I'm finished doing the water change. How long should I wait until I test it again? Like I said I usually take the water to the pet store and they check it for me. They said it was fine the other day, but I wanted to check again after I did the second water change but they weren't open today. When I researched it online people seemed to think that .5 Nitrites wasn't bad but on the color chart it said "caution" My puffer seems fine but I wanted to make sure. Thank you all for your help you've been great!
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32975
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
Did you see my post above yours? I think you might have been typing when I posted that.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Re: Should I be worried about a .5 nitrite reading?
No I don't think I fed the tank...honestly I'm not sure what that meansPufferpunk wrote:Did you "feed" the tank at all while it was empty to keep it cycled? If not, then all or most of the beneficial bacteria has starved within 1 week & your puffer is basically living in an uncycled tank. I bet there's ammonia too. I'd see if you could get some Dr Tim's to cycle that tank. DON'T LET THE SHOPS TALK YOU INTO ANY OTHER PRODUCT!!! Otherwise, do you have other established tanks around you could borrow some media from?
We have a good article about emergency cycling, in our Library.
I can get some older filters from my friend that's been helping me, he offered one to me before but I didn't think I needed it. I'll head to the pet store in the morning and get them to test my water again and have them write down the readings for me. Will also see if they have the good test kits.