Need advice for a friend on high percentage water changes

Drakon · 08/31/2013, 12:23 PM

My friend started this saltwater kick before myself (where my wife got the idea for us to have one) and already cycled his 10 gal tank. He got a couple fish recently but after testing his tank he found his ammonia 0 but nitrite has rose to 2-3. He's concluded he's probably been over feeding as it never got so high during his cycle (about 6 weeks). He asked me my opinion but I'm to new myself to feel I can give him proper advice so I'm asking here. He wants to know if its better to do a couple 75% changes over a couple days as long as water temp and salinity are the same or multiple per day 10-25% changes. He knows the latter will take more changes and take longer but he doesn't want to stress the fish more so then they already are.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Deinonych · 08/31/2013, 03:24 PM

That tank is not cycled if he is seeing nitrite. Nitrite is not harmful to marine fish (unlike freshwater), but he should keep an eye on it. He should also keep a careful eye on ammonia and do up to 50% water changes as needed if ammonia rises. A Seachem ammonia badge is an easy way to keep tabs on ammonia in real time.

Drakon · 08/31/2013, 03:55 PM

Nitrite not being harmful is news to me but after a Google search I see a few articles about it and will check them out. Still rather have it at 0

. But he is keeping an eye on ammonia and we both will be looking into one of those badges. After talking to him we might know what he did wrong. He cycled the tank with a hob filter similar to the one I have but before he put the fish in he added dry sand then changed out the filter. I'm thinking the bacteria was concentrated in the filter that he removed and not the small bit of rock he had in there, and that basically screwed up his cycle. If anything the store he got the fish said they can take them back or house them, for a small fee, till he corrects the issue.

Thanks

08/31/2013, 12:23 PM	#1
Drakon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 98	Need advice for a friend on high percentage water changes My friend started this saltwater kick before myself (where my wife got the idea for us to have one) and already cycled his 10 gal tank. He got a couple fish recently but after testing his tank he found his ammonia 0 but nitrite has rose to 2-3. He's concluded he's probably been over feeding as it never got so high during his cycle (about 6 weeks). He asked me my opinion but I'm to new myself to feel I can give him proper advice so I'm asking here. He wants to know if its better to do a couple 75% changes over a couple days as long as water temp and salinity are the same or multiple per day 10-25% changes. He knows the latter will take more changes and take longer but he doesn't want to stress the fish more so then they already are. Any advice would be appreciated.

08/31/2013, 03:24 PM	#2
Deinonych Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 4,191	That tank is not cycled if he is seeing nitrite. Nitrite is not harmful to marine fish (unlike freshwater), but he should keep an eye on it. He should also keep a careful eye on ammonia and do up to 50% water changes as needed if ammonia rises. A Seachem ammonia badge is an easy way to keep tabs on ammonia in real time. __________________ Chris Hope is not a strategy. Display Tank: DSA 105 w/36gal sump/fuge · 2x MP40wES PHs · 2x Radion Gen2 · Apex w/PM2 · Fish · Corals · Rock · Sand · Water

08/31/2013, 03:55 PM	#3
Drakon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 98	Nitrite not being harmful is news to me but after a Google search I see a few articles about it and will check them out. Still rather have it at 0 . But he is keeping an eye on ammonia and we both will be looking into one of those badges. After talking to him we might know what he did wrong. He cycled the tank with a hob filter similar to the one I have but before he put the fish in he added dry sand then changed out the filter. I'm thinking the bacteria was concentrated in the filter that he removed and not the small bit of rock he had in there, and that basically screwed up his cycle. If anything the store he got the fish said they can take them back or house them, for a small fee, till he corrects the issue. Thanks