NITRITES, NITRITRES, NITRITES OH MY!!! HELP QUICK PLEASE!!

HELP!!

I got my new Betta and when I tested the water with my brand new Red Sea Master Kit (I had been using Strips) my Nitrate level was through thetop! Azuls's lelevel came down to .1 after a 25% water change but I need to know if I dare do another change on Noel today as he is jus getting getting adjusted.(2nd day here) and I 0nly did a 25% last time. Should I do a 50% this time? EEK!! I am reall lost. When I got up this this mornI ng he was just floting on top of the tank, ( ammonia levels anad nitrates are both 0 on both tanks), :'(

 

Rose,
I would go ahead and do another water change. You can also get some amquel plus at PetSmart or your LFS which will neutralize the nitrites. If you don't have any nitrates in either tank/bowl, they are not cycled, unless you just did a large water change. I would be checking Azul's tank often since the nitrates are at zero, and keep a close eye on the ammonia and nitrites. You may be going through a minI cycle in that tank. Normally unless it's a new tank you are trying to cycle, you can't do too many water changes. Since your betta is new and in an uncycled environment which requires large weekly (or even 100%) water changes every week since you are not running a filter, I wouldn't worry too much about the water changes. If you can syphon the water out for the partial water change instead of moving Noel each time, that might reduce the stress and get the nitrites down.

 

Rose,
I would go ahead and do another water change.  You can also get some amquel plus at PetSmart or your LFS which will neutralize the nitrites.  If you don't have any nitrates in either tank/bowl, they are not cycled, unless you just did a large water change.  I would be checking Azul's tank often since the nitrates are at zero, and keep a close eye on the ammonia and nitrites.  You may be going through a minI cycle in that tank.  Normally unless it's a new tank you are trying to cycle, you can't do too many water changes.  Since your betta is new and in an uncycled environment which requires large weekly (or even 100%) water changes every week since you are not running a filter, I wouldn't worry too much about the water changes.  If you can syphon the water out for the partial water change instead of moving Noel each time, that might reduce the stress and get the nitrites down.     

Noel does have a filter and I can do a 50% water change without moving him very easily as he has plenty of room on ther. He has a heater and everythin that all the the big tanks have, I will do as you suggest and do another change this afternoon.
Y
Thanks a lot.

Rose

 

Rose,
I would go ahead and do another water change.  You can also get some amquel plus at PetSmart or your LFS which will neutralize the nitrites.  If you don't have any nitrates in either tank/bowl, they are not cycled, unless you just did a large water change.  I would be checking Azul's tank often since the nitrates are at zero, and keep a close eye on the ammonia and nitrites.  You may be going through a minI cycle in that tank.  Normally unless it's a new tank you are trying to cycle, you can't do too many water changes.  Since your betta is new and in an uncycled environment which requires large weekly (or even 100%) water changes every week since you are not running a filter, I wouldn't worry too much about the water changes.  If you can syphon the water out for the partial water change instead of moving Noel each time, that might reduce the stress and get the nitrites down.     

Noel does have a filter and I can do a 50% water change without moving him very easily as he has plenty of room on ther.  He has a heater and everythin that all the the big tanks have,  I will do as you suggest and do another change this afternoon.
Y
Thanks a lot.

Rose

Sorry Rose, I just assumed there was no filter in his bowl. Most people don't use a filter in those. : You pamper your bettas more than most do with bowls. Don't worry, I've already slapped myself. :-[

 

Chickadee, I absolutely sympathize with you. My own nitrite rose so quickly just overnight (I had to transfer fishies to another tank)! Now I am afraid my fishies may get sick and die

 

Rose,
I would go ahead and do another water change.  You can also get some amquel plus at PetSmart or your LFS which will neutralize the nitrites.  If you don't have any nitrates in either tank/bowl, they are not cycled, unless you just did a large water change.  I would be checking Azul's tank often since the nitrates are at zero, and keep a close eye on the ammonia and nitrites.  You may be going through a minI cycle in that tank.  Normally unless it's a new tank you are trying to cycle, you can't do too many water changes.  Since your betta is new and in an uncycled environment which requires large weekly (or even 100%) water changes every week since you are not running a filter, I wouldn't worry too much about the water changes.  If you can syphon the water out for the partial water change instead of moving Noel each time, that might reduce the stress and get the nitrites down.     

Oh, gosh, Kimberly - :-[

I wasn't trying to be a smart a-s. I just wanted you to know that he was fully covered and I did think if you thought Azul could handle it so could he. I did do the chang and there was some change. I guess I will just have to do the daily changes until they are better. I am SO SORRY if I offended you, I wouldn't do that for the world!

I am so glad you take the time to give us advice and I am just sorry my original posting didn't give all the information you needed. Yes, I do pamper my Bettas, they are probably some of the worst spoiled babies'; but I can't afford to keep my house very warm this winter so they will need the heaters. By the time I have to pay the salaries of my 2 nurses and my mediacation that pretty much takes care of my Social Security so I have to live ( and so do the fish) off my pension. I am NOT complaining those are just the facts.

I hope all is going well with you. You amaze me yet doing all those tanks! I saw those Blue Jack Dempseys on eBay the other day and they were so beautiful it made me wish I could find room for a big tank. No such luck. Most of your fish must be big as I have noticed in your big tanks you only have a few fish. You said in one of the forums that you liked the Python, but wouldn't using tap water add chlorine to your tank? Maybe I just don't understand the principal.

Well, I've taken enough of your time today. I should go get something done other than bug you. I do want to apologize again. Your suggestion is working and we just (all of us) want to say thank you.

Shalom,

Rose
Noel does have a filter and I can do a 50% water change without moving him very easily as he has plenty of room on ther.  He has a heater and everythin that all the the big tanks have,  I will do as you suggest and do another change this afternoon.
Y
Thanks a lot.

Rose

Sorry Rose, I just assumed there was no filter in his bowl.  Most people don't use a filter in those.   :  You pamper your bettas more than most do with bowls.  Don't worry, I've already slapped myself.   :-[

 

Glad their going down. Just keep on doing what you're doing, watching all parameters and then asking questions when you need to. And yes you do spoil your babies
Carol

 

No question there. They are the boss in this house. they are going to get changes every day til this is over. Azul is up again tody to 1+ but Noel is okay at 0.1 and going down. We will just keep on Ammonia and nitratrates are still at 0. Thanks to you all for your comments.
Rose

 

iv had sum problems as well at the mintue as u've probably read so I sympathise with u but u've sorted it out like I hav well nearly sorted it out anyway Gunnie has been a great help

Relieved C W (just about)

 

EVERYONE has been a help! I have learned more from this group than I could in 10 lifetimes of reading books. I have learned a lot from Gunnie and Butterfly and :'( on their shoulder when the problem was just too much for me to handle. Like they said I am a ridiculously protective mother of my 2 Bettas.

 

Hang in there Chickadee! How's the water today?

 

Hang in there Chickadee!  How's the water today?

Azul is worse. His color is over 1.0. Idid a 50% water change and it was still over 1.0. Noel is doing better. I have him down to 0.1 and I think a couple more 50% water changes will get hime right, but I have to remember he's working with a fairly new filter. It is jist the pits. The thing is I did this by being stupid and adding that thing that was supposed to bring the ph to 7.0. NEVER again. I had always stayed with Aquarium Pharieuticals Inc. and the first time I mixed another brand EEK! I guess that showed me.

Thanks for asking. I know you know how much this is bugging me :'(

 

Try to acclimate them to the ph of your water from the tap. Since you have been using a ph up or down, you need to acclimate them again. They should be fine with the ph you normally have. Did you get a chance to get some amquel plus? It would help make it easier on your babies while you are going through this.

 

Try to acclimate them to the ph of your water from the tap.  Since you have been using a ph up or down, you need to acclimate them again.  They should be fine with the ph you normally have.  Did you get a chance to get some amquel plus?  It would help make it easier on your babies while you are going through this.

We haven' t got it here that I have seen. This is not a very big town and our outlets are limited so I do most of my shopping online. Do you know where I can get it? Even our Walmart has VERY little fish supples evn though they SELL fish. Most places here that sell fish just sell the aquariums and gravels and pretty things to put in them. If you are lucky they supply a good brand of dechlor. I have been giving them an extra dose of Stresscoat in the water in hopes it would comfort them a little but since I don't understand exactly what this does maybe I am just fooling myself. I think they are getting acclimated little by little because I have been using some tap water each time I do a water change. I don't know WHY I got so concerned because our tap water is only 7.8 pH (I know - this is classic Rose) :-[
I will see if I can get some of the amquel plus and maybe get it overnite shipped, Thanks for the suggestion.

I had better close this book ;D.

Shalom,

Rose

 

is a good place to get it.  I have ordered from them before and was happy with my order.  You might want to check out other stuff here also.  It's an awesome site! 

You might also want to add some salt to the water to ease the stress. I think it's 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons, so you would probably only add a little more than a pinch. Some folks say you can add regular table salt, but I prefer to use aquarium salt you can buy at Wal-Mart.

 

IT'S GONE! IT'S GONE IT'S GONE!!!!I WAS BEGINNING TO THINK IT WOULD BE THERE UNTIL THE COWS CAME HOME! Now the 90% water changes paid off even if my fishies didn't think so. I gave them each a new piece of java moss to thank them for being such troopers. Yes, I KNOW they are spoiled, but that's what I love about them.I want to thank all of you who gave advice it took a lot to get ME through this as I do PANIC very easily .

Hope all your fishies and you all are doing well,

Shalom,

Rose

 

Atta Girl!! Knew you could do it!! ;D
Carol