How do i lower my nitrite levels??

HELLO ALL,
I AM KINDA NEW TO THIS HOBBY. IM REALLY LOVIN IT. MY FISH HAVE BEEN ACTING A LIL LETHARGIC LATELY. I HAD A FEELING THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN AMMONIA SPIKE. WELL THE TESTS THAT I BOUGHT DO NOT TEST FOR AMMONIA BUT I WENT AHEAD AND TESTED THE WATER AND MY NITRATES ARE A LIL HIGH BUT THEY AREN'T HIGH ENOUGH TO REALLY WORRY ABOUT, BUT MY NITRITES ARE AT .5 RIGHT NOW AND I HAVE NEVER SHOWN ANY NITRITES BEFORE.
MY TANK HAS BEEN SET UP FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS. IT'S 150 GAL FRESHWATER WITH 1 TIGER OSCAR (THE ENFORCER), 1 RED OSCAR (SPAGHETTI), 1 GREEN TERROR ( FIDO- HE'S VERY SWEET!), 2 BABY CHANNEL CATS (SPOT & ROCKY), 2 PACUS (BONNIE & CLYDE), AND A PLECO (BJ). I TOLD MY HUSBAND TO WAIT ON THE WATER CHANGE B/C I WANTED TO SEE WHAT YALL WOULD TELL ME TO DO......SO WHAT DO I DO?
I DID RECENTLY ADD SOME BACTERIA SUPPLEMENT ABOUT A WEEK AGO. AND I ADDED SOME PH DECREASE AT THE SAME TIME B/C THE PH WAS OFF THE CHARTS.
PLEASE HELP ME I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY BABIES!!
THANKS!
NATALIE

 

Doing a water change wont do much, it will actually prolong the Nitrites to go down.

2 months you might still be cycling, I would hold off Nitrite levels will go down by themselfs. You most likly dont have a good bacteria volume to deal with the Ammonia levels that are being converted.

 

Should i get something to lower the ammonia? I have never seen my fish act like this.

 

There is so much conflicting info on the internet, but i was reading that i could add some aquarium salt to it and that would lower the levels.
Another site said not to feed the fish for a day or so and that would help.


I should just leave it alone, huh??

 

I feed my fish once every 2-3 days. Your question about not feeding the fish made me think you're feeding them daily or more often... I don't know that this will have much to do with your nitrites though.

Given you are 2 months old - my first thought is you haven't actually finished cycling or that you added too many items (live rock, fish, etc.) too quickly causing a new cycle.

Time needs to be given between each addition (I like to wait a month between each fish I add, for example).

EDIT:
Forgot you said freshwater, ignore the Live Rock comment. And for my FW, I wait a week or so between adding each fish (one month wait is for my SW tank).

 

i do feed my fish daily..... i do it b/c i have all those fish and the oscars run off with the food. i feed them frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and an occasional beef heart cube........ should i maybe feed every other day?

 

I haven't had experience with every fish in your list... some might require it so I won't say they don't...


But the freshwater fish I have had (right now I only have a frog in my freshwater) only ever got fed every other day.

 

thanks a bunch. i will do some research and try to determine what's a good resource and what isn't on feeding my fish. thanks again!

natalie

 

I have 5 F.W. Tanks and all of them have cycled differently. From 1 week to 3 mo. Just be careful on feeding amounts and WAIT. The nitrites will go down and then you will start seeing Nitrates (Tank has Cycled). Get the Cichlid sticks for the Oscars. Let them run off with them. (Keeps them busy). then feed the others lightly-cause the sticks will leave a trail of debris. Only 1 stick per oscar.

 

I would do a water change. It will increase cycle time , but the fish need the relief. Ideally of course you want to wait until nitrites are zero before adding post cycle fish.
I did a 15% water change during my cycle cuz I felt bad for the damsel.. it won't make much difference in cycle time.
Read notes here under day 14:
A Typical Break-In Cycle