HELP Nitrate levels skyrocketed!

supermansmom · 10-19-2011, 09:08 AM

I cycled my tank with no problem. Today I find my blue ahli is dead and my sunshine peacock on it's side, which died a little later. I changed my ammonia pack on friday or saturday. Could this have caused an issue? I haven't done anything else different and had an easy cycle when I started the tank up 2 months ago. I just did a 30% water change and removed the ammonia pack from the filter. Should I also change my filter since it was sitting on it? I tested the water again and the levels were still reading NO2 as 10 and NO3 as 200! I tested right after the water change. I didn't have algae built up anywhere and removed all food the was not eaten, there was food in the tank for a day because I was out of town and someone else fed my fish for me but I wouldn't think that would make the nitrate levels go crazy, they have never been higher than 0.5 NO2 and 20 NO3 and are usually at 0. Please help!!!!!!!!

jrman83 · 10-19-2011, 09:17 AM

Why do you use an ammonia pack? Nearly all forms of chemical filtration hide other issues that you may not be aware of. If your tank has ammonia without them, then you either have it in your tap or you're doing something wrong. And the only way to know either is to stop using the chemical filtration.

I would just do a 50% water change. Let it run for roughly a hour and test again. Keep doing that everyday until the level is below 40ppm.

How big is your tank and what is in it?

supermansmom · 10-19-2011, 09:48 AM

I used an amonia pack the petstore recommended when I started the tank 2 months ago and my levels were never about .5 or 20. I changed the amonia pack which was advised by the petstore because I had the other one for 7 weeks and he said it needs to be changed every6 but i just changed my filter cartridge so I didn't wnat ot change the amonia pack and have to cycle again. I have a 30 gal tank and thsi is the first time since set up I have had any issues or fish die. I currently have a yellow lab, and ob zebra, and some random little long assorted cichlid. I will take out more water since I only did about a 30% change as soon as I found the problem. I really think it was from that amonia pack since I haven't done anything else different. thanks for your response, fingers crossed!

majerah1 · 10-19-2011, 09:50 AM

As Ben stated,chemicals are really just masking the underlying issues here.No chemical can replace good fishkeeping practices.

jrman83 · 10-19-2011, 09:57 AM

It could just be that your friend way overfed your fish. It has happened to people many times before and they come home to mucked up tanks. My recommendation to you is if you are going to only be out of town for a few days to a week, just leave the fish unfed. If that doesn't set well with you, get a quality auto-feeder. Most fish can handle going at least a full week without food and I have heard stories of people leaving them for nearly 3wks and not a single fish death.

supermansmom · 10-19-2011, 10:17 AM

I had no idea the food could affect it this much. Hopefully there is no other issues and taking out the amonia pack will help resolve it. I don't think my nerves can handle any underlying issues. Thank you for the feeding advice, I have a vacation planned next June for a week and have thought about what to do. I think I would rather risk not feeding for a week rather than something like this to happen again.

Hooperman42 · 10-28-2011, 07:26 PM

Are you saying its better to do 25 percent and then 25 percent right after or best to do 50 percent at one time. ??

Quote:

Originally Posted by jccaclimber

The underlying issue is a not fully developed bacterial filter. An ammonia pack may be fine starting up, but it isn't something you want to use on a long term basis. Your nitrite level is likely what killed the fish, although your nitrAte level implies one of the following:
1) No water changes (you say you do).
2) A very overstocked tank.
3) A very overfed tank, and likely not just once.

As has been said above, unless you're out of town for two weeks or more, don't have someone feed your fish. Also, don't overfeed them the day before you leave.
Fish are much more likely to be harmed by over feeding than under feeding, particularly since they will beg for food (and often eat it too) even after they are properly fed. Try cutting back what you are feeding them (on a long term basis) and see how they take it. If they aren't getting thin it's probably fine.
Also, water changes disturb the tank bacteria, which makes them release waste. Wait an hour or two after you clean a tank to take readings, or take them before you do the water change. Assuming your tap water is clean (probably is), if you do an X percent water change, you get an X percent reduction in waste. A 30% water change decreases water parameters by 30%, a 50% by half, etc. Note that a 50% water change is not the same as a 25% change, refill, and another 25% change (that's like a not quite 44% water change if you do the math).

RobSchuele247 · 10-28-2011, 07:42 PM

I think he meant do it all at one time.

Hooperman42 · 10-28-2011, 08:09 PM

That what I assumed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jccaclimber

Just the opposite, I'm saying doing two back to back 25% changes is worse. It removes less of the toxin, and stirs the tank up more than one 50%.
Edit, Rob got it right, Hooper got it backwards.

10-19-2011, 09:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
supermansmom Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 7 Name: Jess Ell Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	HELP Nitrate levels skyrocketed! I cycled my tank with no problem. Today I find my blue ahli is dead and my sunshine peacock on it's side, which died a little later. I changed my ammonia pack on friday or saturday. Could this have caused an issue? I haven't done anything else different and had an easy cycle when I started the tank up 2 months ago. I just did a 30% water change and removed the ammonia pack from the filter. Should I also change my filter since it was sitting on it? I tested the water again and the levels were still reading NO2 as 10 and NO3 as 200! I tested right after the water change. I didn't have algae built up anywhere and removed all food the was not eaten, there was food in the tank for a day because I was out of town and someone else fed my fish for me but I wouldn't think that would make the nitrate levels go crazy, they have never been higher than 0.5 NO2 and 20 NO3 and are usually at 0. Please help!!!!!!!!

10-19-2011, 09:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: HELP Nitrate levels skyrocketed! Why do you use an ammonia pack? Nearly all forms of chemical filtration hide other issues that you may not be aware of. If your tank has ammonia without them, then you either have it in your tap or you're doing something wrong. And the only way to know either is to stop using the chemical filtration. I would just do a 50% water change. Let it run for roughly a hour and test again. Keep doing that everyday until the level is below 40ppm. How big is your tank and what is in it?

10-19-2011, 09:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
supermansmom Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 7 Name: Jess Ell Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: HELP Nitrate levels skyrocketed! I used an amonia pack the petstore recommended when I started the tank 2 months ago and my levels were never about .5 or 20. I changed the amonia pack which was advised by the petstore because I had the other one for 7 weeks and he said it needs to be changed every6 but i just changed my filter cartridge so I didn't wnat ot change the amonia pack and have to cycle again. I have a 30 gal tank and thsi is the first time since set up I have had any issues or fish die. I currently have a yellow lab, and ob zebra, and some random little long assorted cichlid. I will take out more water since I only did about a 30% change as soon as I found the problem. I really think it was from that amonia pack since I haven't done anything else different. thanks for your response, fingers crossed!

10-19-2011, 09:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
majerah1 Wild betta tamer majerah1's Photo Gallery Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4,296 Name: Beverly D Fincannon Location: Easley,SC My location Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,733 Times Said "Thanks" 547 Times Was Thanked 1,127 Times in 1,012 Posts	Re: HELP Nitrate levels skyrocketed! As Ben stated,chemicals are really just masking the underlying issues here.No chemical can replace good fishkeeping practices. __________________ http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/ "Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

10-19-2011, 09:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: HELP Nitrate levels skyrocketed! It could just be that your friend way overfed your fish. It has happened to people many times before and they come home to mucked up tanks. My recommendation to you is if you are going to only be out of town for a few days to a week, just leave the fish unfed. If that doesn't set well with you, get a quality auto-feeder. Most fish can handle going at least a full week without food and I have heard stories of people leaving them for nearly 3wks and not a single fish death.

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10-19-2011, 10:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
supermansmom Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 7 Name: Jess Ell Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: HELP Nitrate levels skyrocketed! I had no idea the food could affect it this much. Hopefully there is no other issues and taking out the amonia pack will help resolve it. I don't think my nerves can handle any underlying issues. Thank you for the feeding advice, I have a vacation planned next June for a week and have thought about what to do. I think I would rather risk not feeding for a week rather than something like this to happen again.

10-28-2011, 07:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
RobSchuele247 Danio, danio, danio RobSchuele247's Photo Gallery Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 262 Name: Rob Location: New Jersey Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 183 Times Said "Thanks" 32 Times Was Thanked 52 Times in 52 Posts	Re: HELP Nitrate levels skyrocketed! I think he meant do it all at one time. __________________ New to the hobby, Got lots of ambition ! 25-gallon Community Ta\nk 3 Zebra Danios 2 Long Finned Leopard Danios 2 Silver Tipped Tetras 2 Nerite Snails 5-gallon Betta Tank Planted: 1 Betta Wisteria Java Moss 10-gallon still deciding.

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