Green Flame

I have decided to start a new thread as a continuation of my sulfer smelling water one because I think that question has pretty much been solved and my new post were about another problem.

The old thread is here and it explains all about it
Sulfur smell in water?

Pretty much the water levels spiked a few days ago. Did water changes everyday and brought ammonia down to 0 again. Now nitrites are 1 and nitrates are 40. I have already done a water change today. Should I do another one (is 2 in a day safe) or are the fishes going to be ok overnight with these levels.

Am very tired. Need to know soon before no more energy to do another water change. Hard day.

Thanks for any help.

CHoffman

40 is pretty high. But you don't want to hurt the cycle either. I would do a waterchange. I would much rather my fish be safe and have the cycle take a little longer then harming the fish. Have you checked your tap water for Nitrates??.That could be adding to the problem.

Lucy

Ya, sorry Green, I agree with Cesch, a water change tonight would be a good idea.
The you can go to bed.

Butterfly

Green flame some fast growing plants would help keep the Nitrates in a comfortable level for your fish if you continue to have problems in that area.
Some good news though by your numbers the cycle is moving on. Ammonia has turned into Nitrites and the Nitrites are turning into Nitrates which is a good sign. Nitrates are less toxic than either ammonia or nitrite. For the nitrate to be so high the Nitrites much have been way on up there at one time so hang in there the tank is getting there.
How is everything today? After doing a water change wait a couple of hours after water changes to test so the water will be well mixed before testing.
Keep us posted.
Carol

Green Flame

Okay, so I did the big water change last night because I would not have been able to sleep anyways thinking all the fishes were going to die if the levels went any higher.

Last night after the water change (maybe 1/2 hour) the readings were:
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0.5
Nitrates 10
I know I probably should have waited a couple of hour to test the water but I was exausted and it was past midnight.

I just got home from work (still exausted with only 4 hours of sleep), and tested the water. Here's the levels now.

Ammonia 0 still. Yay!
Nitrites 1 they went back up
Nitrates 20-40 kinda in between on the chart

Green Flame

Butterfly,
I have thought about a plant but my pleco would destroy it. I've seen him eat his pieces of cucumber!! We put in spinach once, for the Gouramis actually, and let's just say I don't think any plant would stand a chance. He's nuts! But we love him.

But we've never had any tank go this out of control except in our very beginning of fishkeeping. This tank was stable. Never any Ammonia or Nitrites. Very controllable levels of Nitrates, and all of a sudden everything went crazy.

What I'm saying is high levels of Nitrates weren't really a problem before this and I hope they won't be after everything is stabilized again.

Shawnie

you are so close...another water change and have you tested your tap water or did I miss that? and also, that number 2 bottle really has to be banged on a countertop to mix up those crystals...its a pain sometimes...if im repeating what has already been suggested, im sorry

Butterfly

Your getting there just hang in there When something messes with the cycle I think it's almost as bad as just starting over.
Yep My Pleco love his zuchinni He cleans my plants but he really doesn't like the Java Ferns or the Anubias. Letting plants like Watersprite or Hornwort float would really suck those nitrates up.
also during this time you might cut down how much your feeding your fish, that way they won't produce so much waste. Especially the Pleco.
Carol

Green Flame

I have tested the water tap and all levels (Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate) are 0. I guess I'm lucky. I always make sure to mix that number 2 bottle really well. My Nitrate test came up with 0 earlier today so I had to redo it. I'm pretty sure Nitrates can't just vanish out of your tank overnight.

Thanks alot for the tips on plants. This will really narrow the research I'll have to do before getting any. My LFS has a really good selection of plants. I think I'll have a better look next time I go.
I have cut down on the feeding. I'm really paranoiying right now so I'm being careful about everything.

Anyways, I did another water change today (only 20% this time) and here are the results:

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0.25 (earlier today 1)
Nitrates 10 (earlier today 20-40)

Very happy. Smaller water change than yesterday but the levels have dropped just as much. This seems like a good sign.

Butterfly

Sounds good
Carol

Green Flame

Well I've been changing the water every day. Just a little. First 25%, then dropped it down to 20%-15%. The Nitrites always go down to about 0.25 and then the next day they've climbed right back up to 1. Nitrates go down to 10 then up to 20.

I did the last water change yesterday. Ammonia remains 0. Nitrites dropped to 0.5 and today they are 1 again but the Nitrates dropped to 10 and are still the same. Is this a bad sign?

I'm thinking I should not do so many water changes but I'm afraid the Nitrite levels will climb too high and my poor fishes will die.