Lowering nitrites

Real quick I need help lowering my nitrites in my 2.5 gallon. Do I just do daily water changes or do I need water conditioner.

 

I would recommend both. Do a big water change and then add something like Prime which detoxes the nitrites.

 

I'v never heard or seen Prime before but I'll do a big water change, I'v been doing smaller ones every day but it's been like this for two weeks now.

 

seachem prime available pretty much everywhere you can find fish supplies.

 

Amquel plus also works. Regular amquel only detoxifies the ammonia I think and that wouldn't help you. Make sure you get the plus.

 

How long would I have to use this, is it permanent or is it only until I lower them?

 

I would advise just doing the water changes. How high are the nitrates?
Carol

 

Butterfly, its his nitrItes, not nitrAtes.

atm, I'd do it until you are getting zero nitrite readings. I've never used Amquel Plus so I'm not sure how it works but at least with Prime, it doesn't remove nitrites, it just detoxifies them so they aren't harmful to the fish. They are still present and will still assist in the cycling of the tank.

 

I'm sorry evidently I can't type today I would still just do water changes. ATM is your tank still cycling? If it is there has to be a little nitrites there for the bacteria to turn into nitrAtes. How high are your NitrItes. As everybody knows I'm a no chemical person when a problem can be solved another way and water changes will do exactly that.
I don't believe their are any fish in this tank right? If their not high(Nitrites) it won't hurt the snail.
Carol

 

That's what I was saying about Prime. It doesn't remove the nitrites, it just detoxifies them. They are still availble for the cycling process to use.

 

But it's still one more chemical added to the water that's not necessary unless the Nitrites are exceptionally high .
Carol

 

I guess I was just assuming that since he said he needed help real quick with getting them down, that they were significantly high. Then again, I don't really think of Prime as a chemical either. Especially since its almost impossible to overdose and assists nicely with cycling.

 

No I'm in no rush I meant it as a real quick question not real quick. Anyways yes it's my nitrites not my NitrAtes. Last time a tested for nitrates which was less than a week ago they were at zero and when I tested my ammonia two days ago it was at zero and two days ago my nitrites were at 5.0. I'm going to do a 90% water change today and test it later to see what it is. Still boxermom I'v never seen that product before, though I'll see if my lfs has it tomorow as I hope to go there tomorow to look at there fish.

Austin

 

Sounds like your cycle is on it's way, soon you will be seeing nitrates and nitrites will drop. You could do a 50% water change and be in good shape
Carol

 

I did a 90% water change and I still had zero ammonia,5.0 nitrates (went up from zero) and finally zero nitrites. How long should I wait before I know it's safe to get a fish and for sure the cycle is done? Thanks for the help so far.

Austin

 

Any nitrates in the water means the cycle is at the very least almost completed.

Nitrates with no nitrites typically means that it's done! (assuming you used no high-nitrate tank water from your other tanks, or that there is no high nitrate content in your tap/well water)

 

Nitrites and ammonia should both read zero before adding fish. Then start stocking very slowly.

 

ok thanks.