Major water quality problem

by **Lairewen** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 3:16

A few days ago I mentioned an ammonia spike in Finwe's tank. Now, ever since I put him in I've had nitrite readings, despite the tank being (supposedly) cycled. Today, in a fit of frustration, I removed him from the tank, drained it completely and refilled it with clean, fresh water. Tested it, all a-ok. Within 6 hours nitrites were back at 1ppm!

I'm at my wits end. I've moved Finwe into the shrimp tank in an attempt to save him - he's looking very ill. Just hope he doesn't eat my new shrimp! I've been doing twice daily water changes for weeks now... but it looks like I'll have to shut the tank down unless anyone has an idea???

Please help. Sad

by **CeeJayy** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 6:53

Do you have any mature, cycled media from other tank filters? You could try putting a bit into the filter of Finwe's tank.

by **lilacamy931** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 7:31

Yeah squeezings, placing some filter media in the tank or in the fitlter itself can all help. You may now need do a fishless cycle ( a mini cycle) just to kick start?

by **Lairewen** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 11:21

Hi,

It was mature media I used, so I'm really baffled as to why this is happening. Now I've removed him I think I'm going to use bio mature to settle it.

My some miracle he's still alive this morning, just hope the shrimplets are hiding!

Thanks...

by **Newfishy** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 15:15

is there a dead hunk of fish or plant material stuck in an ornament or in the filter itself that could be causing the problem?

by **Vandraco aka Bronzecat** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 15:21

Quick one......are you using Dechlorinator? If not the chlorine can kill off the filter.

by **pippoodle** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 15:21

did you give the gravel/sand a good stir qand clean - could be some dead food or plant hiding in the gravel/sand

by **Lairewen** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 15:55

Thanks all,

Nothing stuck in the filter - it was new so no other fish (just used mature media) and no plant that I can tell.

Am using dechlorinator, been getting through massive amounts of aquasafe!

I rinsed the sand before putting it in, maybe not enough?

Finwe has definitely perked up now he's in the other tank, so I may leave him there, even though I had ear-marked it for wilds. Not sure the shrimp are very happy though.

by **Lairewen** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 17:51

Also, will he make a full recovery from the nitrite exposure?

by **lilacamy931** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 18:31

hmmmm that is really odd hon, just keep battling with it and ensure to feed the bacteria with fish food.

He may do hon, sure hope so. It depends how badly he was affected, some spring back completely, so fingers crossed x

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