nitrite levels

[amandamari]

I have recently changed the water in my tank because it needed to happen and now the nitrite levels are going crazy. I have done a ten percent water change twice already and the levels still are settling down.

[amandamari]

Haha and I forgot to ask the question..is there something I can do in order to fix this in another way because it is worrying me.

[thetupak]

hey i got a book on fresh water aquariums and it said you can put 1 tsp of salt per gallon and it will remove the toxicity of the nitrate

[amandamari]

what type of salt...like aquarium salt or table salt?

[thetupak]

it said aquarium salt

[amandamari]

ok thanks.

[amandamari]

So, I did another...few...water changes and I put some aquarium salt in the tank..and I also put an air stone in there..and now I think they are feeling much better. thanks again.

[BWSmith]

Just remember that Kosher Salt from the grocery store is the same as Aquarium salt and much cheaper.

[telefrag]

also remember that NITRATE and NITRITE are totally different, nitrite is produced during nitrification, and doesnt last long.

NITRATE is the byproduct of nitrification and can usually only be removed by water changes.
It is usually NOT toxic to aquarium animals.

I dont believe salt will do you any good.

Nitrite will disperse quickly and should not be a problem, NITRATE on the other hand can be removed by doing smaller water changes in shorter periods of time (every other week or so).

[amandamari]

Haha I will remember that for next time, BWSmith. I just didn't have time to look into the idea that much and I just wanted to find away to keep the stress level down etc. It was only two bucks so it wasn't that bad...hehe. And telefrag, the reason for the salt was to help with the stress that was created by the high nitrite levels. It causes respiratory problems so they get all...upsetish..and they were breathing at the top..and I read the the salt would help to prevent the poisoning from high nitrite levels and would also help relieve stress..so in that way, it helped I think. For some strange reason, this one tank that we have always spikes with the nitrite levels when the water is changed and it doesn't seem to happen with any other tanks that I have had. I have had fish die from those spikes so I didn't just want to wait for that to disperse..