Nitrite help !

I keep getting a reading of 0.2 on my nitrite test. It is an established tank and everybody seems to be doing great. I called my LFS guy and he said something about good bacteria and bad bacteria and that I may be having a battle? He said to not do any water changes. Is this the correct information? Everything else tests great but the nitrites. I just don't want to lose any fish.

 

If your fish are doing well then you really don't have aproblem YET!! that being said, how is your ammonia level? If your ammonia level is high/spiking then your nitrites will undoubtably be on the rise as well!
High nitrites will be portrayed by gasping for air at the top of your tank, brown or tan colored gills, rapid gill movement and listlessness!
High nitrites cause incresed methemoglobin in their blood stream causing their blood to turn brown. This creates a major problem in that the blood can no longer carry oxygen to all the parts of a fishes body leading to suffocation!!!
What you can to to decrease the amount of nitrites in your water are, WATER CHANGES(don't know why your LPS said don't do a water change!) increase aeration to your water to increase DO to your water column! Decrease the amount of food and feedings, add alittle salt to your tank and test your water regularly to ensure that you don't have spikes in ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.
Other symptoms of high nitrites are ich, bacterial infections and fin rot!
Nitrites are the second most deadly problem to fish, second only to ammonia poisoning!!!

 

My ammonia is fine as are the rest of the tests. I am using an aquaclear 110 filter and typhoon HOB skimmer. Could either of these be contributing ? I clean my filter every weekend by rinsing the sponge filter. I just replaced the charcoal last week. Last week was also my last water change. Around 10 to 15%. My LFS guy said something like I was being to anal in my cleaning and that could be causing this. Any truth to that?

 

I use Kent nitrate sponges, they seem to help.

 

I don't know if the nitrate sponge will help with NITRITES...the nitrates are the end process of the cycle and way less detrimental to livestock than the ammonia and nitrites, and can be removed as you say with the use of a nitrate sponge, water changes, decreased food and the cleaning of the bioballs if they are being used! Increased skimming and filtration should also help, however, I don't think that will help to eleviate the high nitrite levels/spikes!!

 

I don't really think you can be to anal with respect to the cleanlines of your equipment or the quality of your water. If you clean your filtration equipment regularly, only good things will happen as a result IMO!
Also, water changes once a week or atleast every other week will also help to keep your water parameters in check along with proper testing. It will also ensure that you are adding proper amounts and beneficial trace minerals etc. to your tank for the benefit of your livestock. The removal of DOM, CO2, and other contaminants is also provided!
Carbon is beneficial, though I wouldn't add it constantly as it will strip trace minerals, medications, vitamins etc. from your water as will your skimmer. It is best to add it for say three days then remove it for a couple of weeks or so, then add it again and alittle goes a long way!!!

 

Have you checked your water with another test kit and have you checked to see if the kit has expired?

 

Definitly check your test kit. I had a similar problem occur when I first started out. I think it was in the second month. My nitrites were up a tiny bit but so was my ammonia. I would suspect that if your nitrites are a little high, you may have gone through a small spike but may have not gotten a reading of ammonia because maybe the ammonia had already converted by the time you tested it. Has anything died in the tank, did you disturb your sand bed alot? I was fortunate to not have any losses.

Your regular maintenance is not anal, it is actually really good. Doing regular maintenance in this hobby is most essential, this eliminates future problems. I think you LFS guy is WRONG in telling you that you are too diligent. Cleaning filter media weekly is a must or you will have nothing but problems in the future. Don't stop doing what you are doing, you were correct by doing it.