NO3 AND NO2

[Tener ds]

hi all,not sure wots happing but yesterday i added 2 new plants and a betta to my tank,also did a 20% water change, and today i did a water test and the Nitrate and Nitrite have gone up,so says my test kit.is this cos of the new fish? or plants?and how can i lower it...all the fish seam fine,yes even perry is out and about.also looks like his white spot has gone too.
ps just remembered that i feed them extra bloodworms too.

my tank:

you can just see perry in the hole in the wall.lol

 

[2wheelsx2]

How long has this tank been setup? How many inhabitants were in it before? if you've doubled the bioload, then for sure, the tank has to "grow" some bacteria, and you may have some measurable nitrite. Nitrates going up is normal and healthy. That means your biological filter is working.

 

[Tener ds]

How long has this tank been setup? How many inhabitants were in it before? if you've doubled the bioload, then for sure, the tank has to "grow" some bacteria, and you may have some measurable nitrite. Nitrates going up is normal and healthy. That means your biological filter is working.

cheers for the reply..
tank has been set up for nealy 7 weeks and there is 9 fish in there.
the thing is that i test the water 3 hours after a water change,the last check all was
ok,but now its not,after 2 plants and a betta.i,m thinkin it might be over feeding cos feed the betta some extra bloodworms.thats 2 lots of worms in too days.:dk:
the test strip showed the NO2 and NO3 was up and a water change was needed.

 

[2wheelsx2]

Keep an eye on it. Maybe it was the extra fish, and stirring up the substrate to put in the new plants, plus the bloodworms. If the nitrites don't clear up, then you have a problem. Are all fish accounted for?

 

[Tener ds]

Keep an eye on it. Maybe it was the extra fish, and stirring up the substrate to put in the new plants, plus the bloodworms. If the nitrites don't clear up, then you have a problem. Are all fish accounted for?

yep all fish are there, even got 2 tiny tiny snails with the plants.
Will a 10% daily water change help?

 

[macvsog23]

A tip for adding fish never double the amount that is if your tank has 5 fish don't put 6 in.

 

[2wheelsx2]

Water change will help keep the nitrite in check. Don't vacuum the substrate nor touch the filter media while it goes through this and you should be fine in a few days or a week.

 

[Lornek8]

What type of filter are you using?
How big is the tank?

 

[Tener ds]

What type of filter are you using?
How big is the tank?

the tank is a fluval edge,6g 23 liters.not sure wot the filter is called,hangs on
the edge off the tank.:dk:
did a 20% water change today with out touching the sand and then
tested it 2 hours after and the reading was better,only a little bit tho.:yes:

 

[Lornek8]

Is the filter media replacable, like a cartridge?
I am not sure what type of filters you've got available in your area but around here, the most common HOB (Hang-on-back) filters have replaceable cartridges with floss and some carbon afixed to a plastic frame. These types of filters have very little biological filtration capacity & are designed to be disposable in which case any bioligical activity is lost.
Tank is quite overstocked i'd say. Nine fish in a 6 gallon is a bit much. In order to maintain this amount of fish you need to look at increasing water change frequency & reducing feeding amounts.

 

[Tener ds]

Is the filter media replacable, like a cartridge?
I am not sure what type of filters you've got available in your area but around here, the most common HOB (Hang-on-back) filters have replaceable cartridges with floss and some carbon afixed to a plastic frame. These types of filters have very little biological filtration capacity & are designed to be disposable in which case any bioligical activity is lost.
Tank is quite overstocked i'd say. Nine fish in a 6 gallon is a bit much. In order to maintain this amount of fish you need to look at increasing water change frequency & reducing feeding amounts.

I now change water 20% every 2 days and feed every 3 days.
The filter is a cartridge type.10% per day till the no3 and no2
get sorted

 

[Lornek8]

Should probably look at:
1) Getting a bigger tank
2) Getting a better filter

The problem will probably continue with the setup you've got. Quite possibly will get worse as the fish grow. Live plants help but may be awhile before they become established & contribute significantly.

 

[Tener ds]

Should probably look at:
1) Getting a bigger tank
2) Getting a better filter

The problem will probably continue with the setup you've got. Quite possibly will get worse as the fish grow. Live plants help but may be awhile before they become established & contribute significantly.

ok, I got the misses to check my filter spares box ( got spare foam sponge,biomax and carbon)when I replace something I make a note
on the box...turns out my tank problem might be down to me.
I cleaned out the filter 2 days before adding 1 new fish and 2 plants, but I
replaced the sponge and the biomax at the same time (oopps)
it says in BIG LETTERS that u should NEVER change them at the same time.
Do u think my tank will sort it self out. Or do I have to start again?

 

[2wheelsx2]

ok, I got the misses to check my filter spares box ( got spare foam sponge,biomax and carbon)when I replace something I make a note
on the box...turns out my tank problem might be down to me.
I cleaned out the filter 2 days before adding 1 new fish and 2 plants, but I
replaced the sponge and the biomax at the same time (oopps)
it says in BIG LETTERS that u should NEVER change them at the same time.
Do u think my tank will sort it self out. Or do I have to start again?

Ok, there's your answer. You never need to replace the biomax. If they get really gunky, swirl it around in some tank water. The sponge usually is that same. But sometimes I wash it in tap water if it's really bad (we have very little chlorine in our tap water).

Don't start over or the problem will be worse as you've made some headway already. Just tough it out.

 

[Tener ds]

Ok, there's your answer. You never need to replace the biomax. If they get really gunky, swirl it around in some tank water. The sponge usually is that same. But sometimes I wash it in tap water if it's really bad (we have very little chlorine in our tap water).

Don't start over or the problem will be worse as you've made some headway already. Just tough it out.

ok cheers,i feel a bit stupid now,let my fish down and myself...
fish keepin has changed in 20 years..ill just keep doin the water changes and see wot happens.
cheers for your help.

 

[Tener ds]

ok cheers,i feel a bit stupid now,let my fish down and myself...
fish keepin has changed in 20 years..ill just keep doin the water changes and see wot happens.
cheers for your help.

right I've been doin the 10% water changes and the test is not
that much diffrent. We lost the betta yesterday and now lost 1
off the galaxy rasboras, can't find the body, he might of gone up
the filter pipe.will it be ok to remove the filter to see if I can find him?
Alsocan I hover the poo?

 

[2wheelsx2]

I would not do any gravel vacuuming, but if you can get at the feces without disturbing the gravel bed, do so. And yes, look for the dead fish, as that's going to contribute to your ammonia/nitrite problem. I would ncrease the size of water changes until you have it under control or you may lose more fish.

 

[Irene0100]

sorry you lost some fish , all part of learning.
yes keep the water changes every day for a while.
if you have any chemicals to speed the bio growth, eg new tank bio, try some of that.
sounds like you destroyed the essental bacteria, also when you wash the filter medium, only wash some of it and wash it in tank water.
did you say you feed every three days?, Try feeding daily but much less food cos keeps the level more balance rather than big surge every three days.

 

[Tener ds]

sorry you lost some fish , all part of learning.
yes keep the water changes every day for a while.
if you have any chemicals to speed the bio growth, eg new tank bio, try some of that.
sounds like you destroyed the essental bacteria, also when you wash the filter medium, only wash some of it and wash it in tank water.
did you say you feed every three days?, Try feeding daily but much less food cos keeps the level more balance rather than big surge every three days.

hi irene,
dead fish found at the bottom of the filter cradle..:cry:
i use nutrafin cycle,is this ok to speed up the bio growth?
also doin 20% (6 liters) water change to much per day?
or shall i leave it at 10% per day till the levels sort out?
also when i was treating the tank for white spot i used protozin,
its turned the foam sponge light blue.will this be ok to leave in the filter?


cheers for all your help guys.

 

[Tener ds]

Right the levels have sorted them selfs out now, all
are fine.
I have noticed that the water is a bit cloudy, is this normal?