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Have trouble with high nitrites in tank. I did about a 20% water change and it did not change, then about a week later did a 50% water change. Has not helped. Added a Nitra-Zorb in sump. I am wondering if it would be the tap water causeing this. I have a 75 gal. tank with bio balls. I have had this tank for about 2 years and this is the first time I have had any trouble with it. I have a total of 28 cichlids. Maybe I have too many fish in the tank.

Do you vacuum the gravel when you do the water change?? This alone helps get the waste and uneaten foods out of the gravel that can cause high Nitrites/Nitrates.. IF you just do a water change, then you dont' remove the problem.. cleaning the filter boxes too every two weeks help keep the traped waster out of circulation.. 50% is kind of drastic but HOW high are your nitrites? Any reading of Nitrates?? How about ammonia??

Also, have you measured nitrates out of the faucet? 28 cichlids in a 75? What kind and how big?

Originally posted by Barb Okla
Do you vacuum the gravel when you do the water change?? This alone helps get the waste and uneaten foods out of the gravel that can cause high Nitrites/Nitrates.. IF you just do a water change, then you dont' remove the problem.. cleaning the filter boxes too every two weeks help keep the traped waster out of circulation.. 50% is kind of drastic but HOW high are your nitrites? Any reading of Nitrates?? How about ammonia??

I have a dry-wet filter system with bio balls, I vacumed the gravel with the water change. I added another Nitra-Zorb filter. The other one I had in there was only rated for 55 gal. I had the tap water checked and it showed no nitrates. Every thing else checked out fine as far as PH and ammonia. When I took the tap to have checked the nitrates had drroped a little in my tank, I also took another sample of it. Thanks

Originally posted by DanRad
Also, have you measured nitrates out of the faucet? 28 cichlids in a 75? What kind and how big?

I went and had my tap water checked yesterday,no nitrates. Added a Nitra-Zorb filter to tank. Had tank water checked again and has dropped some, may have helped. They said for me to bring another sample in a couple of days and check it again. AS of now I have 1 Frontosa about 4in, 2 Green Terrors 4in, 2 Sunshine Peacocks 3in, Blood Red Parrot 6in, Firemouth 3in, Electric Blue Hap. 5in, Electric Blue Johanni 4in, 2 Yellow Labs 4in, Blue Dolphin 4in, 2 OB Blotch Peacocks 4in, 2 Blue Acara 3in, Salvian 5in. That about it and 2 Plecos. I may have left out something.

Well, I think we've found the key to your situation. That's really a lot of fish for that tank! My guess is that without almost daily water changes your nitrates are going to stay pegged to the redline. I'm rather surprised you're not having serious aggression problems too, considering your collection. They're going to continue to grow, as well! I believe you're going to have to make some decisions pretty soon about which ones you want to keep, or else get a really humongous tank!

Originally posted by DanRad
Well, I think we've found the key to your situation. That's really a lot of fish for that tank! My guess is that without almost daily water changes your nitrates are going to stay pegged to the redline. I'm rather surprised you're not having serious aggression problems too, considering your collection. They're going to continue to grow, as well! I believe you're going to have to make some decisions pretty soon about which ones you want to keep, or else get a really humongous tank!

The tank is a 75 gal. but there is a 125 gal. wet-dry filtration system. the tank can very easily hold the amount of fish that we have. The nitrates have gone up recently like in the last 3 weeks and there has been no other changes. The fish in general are very peaceful towards each other. There are plenty of hiding places and that seems to keep everyone happy. The other test that are run have all been perfect. I think that I was just trying to feed a little more than I should have to make up for all the fish that are in my tank. We have done water changes and the nitrates are coming down. The last one we did was yest. and the tank is crystal clear we are taking over a sample this morning and having it checked. Thank you for your input though. I am sure that we are going to have to make some adjustments later just because of the Salvania and the green terrors. We are thnking of getting a 55 gal. just to put the peacocks in also.

I had the same problem, but then I did the gravel vacuum and nitra-zorb and they levels lowered. Also I put in some living plants and that was a big hlep as well. It seems as though the tank is over crowded which as others said could be an issue. Also I would watch the amount of food that is not eaten and if most food is not being eaten then lower the amount you feed. Leftover food will raise the levels high and fast. I hope it works out for you.

Originally posted by FISHEYE
I had the same problem, but then I did the gravel vacuum and nitra-zorb and they levels lowered. Also I put in some living plants and that was a big hlep as well. It seems as though the tank is over crowded which as others said could be an issue. Also I would watch the amount of food that is not eaten and if most food is not being eaten then lower the amount you feed. Leftover food will raise the levels high and fast. I hope it works out for you.

I had every thing checked again this morning everthing is back to normal. Last water change I sucked out all the real fine sand and gravels, really got down to the bottom and got it. The Tank looks as clear as I have ever seen it. It worry me at first, I thought I was going to lose some fish before I got it straightend out. Thanks.