New Fish Tank Nitrite Levels.?

[lsmithy93]

I set up a new 63 litre tropical fish tank 2 weeks ago (i added water purifier), i left it running for a couple of days then started adding little bits of food to make the nitrite cycle start so i could actually add fish. A few days ago i put in some plants, and a couple of days ago i bought this kit with something called "Filter Start" in it and a testing kit for pH and Nitrite, the pH was almost perfect (7.5) but the nitrite was deep red something like 4.0mg/l, so i added the filter start. I tested the nitrite levels today and i had got worse the colour chart only goes up to the dark colour of around 4.0mg/l and this was much darker, like a bottle of undiluted black current squash. What has happened? What can i do, i really want to move my fish over to the new tank?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Lindsay]

It's actually called the nitrogen cycle. Nitrite is the second part of the nitrogen cycle. First there's ammonia, then it turns into nitrite, then nitrate..so you're almost there. You need a test kit that tests for all three, or at least find one for nitrate. You will just need to wait a little while longer until the nitrites turn into nitrates. Then, as long as nitrates are under 40 ppm, you can add your fish. If they are too high just do a water change.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?c=3578&articleid=1165&category=266

 

[kouneli]

Nitrite? If there are no fish in there, there shouldn't be any nitrites. I would not recommend putting the fish in there if you have nitrites.

 

[kouneli]

Nitrite? If there are no fish in there, there shouldn't be any nitrites. I would not recommend putting the fish in there if you have nitrites.