MizRamzi

I've had my brackish tank set up for 5/6 weeks now. I did a partial water change yesterday and I now have a horrible nitrite and nitrate spike. Before the change both were great. I have city water, soft. What's going on? How do I lower them quickly and safely?

aquarist48

Sorry you're having tank issues. A dose of Amquel + would help.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...45&pcatid=4045
This will tell you all about Amquel + I use it with every water change.

Lucy

I don't have brackish tanks but water changes would help bring these down. Make sure the water you're replacing has the same salinity as the water taken out.

Are you sure you tested correctly, the parameters should go down not up with a water change.
Maybe test your tap water.

MizRamzi

Dang it. I was trying to lower my salinity from 08 to 05 therefore I did not add any more salt to the replacement water. I replaced aprox 6g of water. I used a hydrometer after water change and the reading is still at 08, what's up with that? I love learning but not at the expense of my fishes, poor lil guys. I feel like the wicked step mom Cinderella!

MizRamzi

Since first writing this post my nitrates/nitrites still have not dropped. I've done 5g water changes every day and still they are high. I don't know what else to do. I've never run into this issue before. I've bought some Amqul hoping this would help, not yet.
Could making a filter out of batting and a nylon cause this issue? Although I added the new filter media after I noticed the issue. Could adding a very small amount of crushed coral cause it? What about adding a pH booster? Anyways I'm off to do another water change....