Help: Can’t get my NO2 down!
I’m brand new to aquarium ownership. Knew absolutely nothing before we were given a baby feeder goldfish at a Halloween party in a plastic water cup.🙄
I immediately got a 20g tank, appropriate filter, airstone. And started with just conditioner, quick start, frequent testing, and 25% water changes every week using a vacuum (no filter changes). But my aquarium never cycled before I had no choice but to add my fish to it.
The last 3 weeks my nitrite has been off the charts and I’ve started doing 50% water changes, added salt, and added bio material to the filter. But No2 is still dangerously high.
What else should I be doing? Sometimes I do an extra 25% water change midweek or so another dose of quick start.
Lastest test strip pictured is 2 hours after a 50% water change (with water treated with conditioner, quick start, and salt).
My kids will be devastated if this little guy doesn’t survive. Please help!
Posted by eeejster
6 Comments
Also: we have been doing less food and skipping feeds. There is never extra food that goes uneaten.
Surely there is something I’m doing wrong here…
https://preview.redd.it/vbgnpn7wo87g1.jpeg?width=2252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=89bd6ce63f998502f7bc821071857b8b07909af8
I recommend picking up one of these as they are significantly more accurate. I think you may have not waited long enough to cycle. The ammonia is being broken down into Nitrite faster than the nitrite can be broken down into nitrate. See if you can pick up any of those little ammonia remover blobs from your local store. I found a small live bacteria gel insert that may help you as it contains the bacteria necessary to process the nitrite into nitrate.
That Goldfish is going to need a MASSIVE tank… 20 gallons isn’t even a scratch at the surface. I’d rehome him if you can’t grab at least a 75 gallon minimum.
You need to pretty much do daily water changes as you’re essentially doing a fish in cycle. Goldfish are pretty forgiving bless them, but they’re also very messy so quite a big biolad. Get the API kit posted by u/roughold9757, it will really help, and just do BIG daily water changes until ammonia and nitrite read 0. The salt probably isn’t doing anything unless your fish has fin rot issues.
Go to a local fish store and ask for some filter media or even a part of the filter
Get some floating plants!