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Help! My boyfriend's tank is dying. He has an assortment of cichlids and cleans his tank regularly but his nitrite levels are off the chart! His fish have stopped eating...well some of them have started again...one fish stays in one spot and just points upward and never moves. They look terrible. The same fish that points upward and another have "tail rot". He had someone come and look at it and said he needs to vaccuum more and he did but it still isn't helping and the nitrite levels are ridiculous. Any ideas?! It's a 29 gallon. He's getting a bigger tank soon.

just keep doing water changes, and more than 30% more like 50%

He's already doing that....I think some of these fish are doomed. How long should he wait between water changes?

How many fish, please list exact fish names and numbers.
What is the filter that is on the tank?
Was the tank fully cycled before?
Is he using water conditioner for the water change?
Are the fish beening grossly overfeed?
What is the ammonia, nitritre, nitrate readings?

Change 25% of the tanks water. Just hover vac over gravel and do not stir to much gravel up, this will just harm good bacteria.
Add some salt according to the directions on the box, this help against poisioning from high nitrite. Increase aeration if possible. Get an bottle of NEw and Improved Cycle, biospira, or biological starter and dose tank. Reduce feeding to nothing for one day and then reevaluate weither to feed or not.

Last edited by openwater at 07-Feb-2005 20:08

The filter is Top Fin 30.

At the moment he has 7 fish:
A rusty
a yellow lab (the really sick one)
a peakock (two of these)
a bottom feeder that's small
an orange cichlid (im sorry i dont know all the exact names)
and an unknown one

all are under 2 inches

Geez you replied fast, can you check over the edits I did and answer accordingly. Thanks openwater.

The tank was fully cycled....we were very careful with that.
he is definitly using water conditioner and a special filter to neutralize nitrites or something
-hhe has admitted that he has been overfeeding a little (i scolded him)
-nitrate high....nitrite off char...ammonia i think is fairly moderate to high

some fish just aren't eating at all

Last edited by Jillieillie at 07-Feb-2005 20:21

Perfrom a 50 % water change immediately. Test water again. Make sure the water tempature is perfect match in tempature. When enivronment condition are very poor like they are the fish's immunity is very comparmised and other disease is a reality. Use zeolite in filter if possible to help reduce ammonia. Move fish to established tank if possible.

How long should he wait between water changes?

How often is the water being changed right now?

Those seven fish in that 29 gal are definitely pushing the bioload of the tank. Even if small, like yours 1-2 inches, can really overload the biofilter. When adult they would be definitley overstocked.

He's getting a bigger tank soon

That's good news, just a bigger tank is always awesome. upgrading rocks. However I would suggest returning half the fish or moving untill the big tank comes. Unless the tank is coming tomorrow or the next day you might end buying new fish anyway.

How long has the tank been cycled?
I assume the reading of ammonia and nitrite were zero before this mini-cycle?
Was the filter media accidently dried out?
Did the filter become unplug?

hhe has admitted that he has been overfeeding a little (i scolded him)

some fish just aren't eating at all

Definitely stop feeding the fish right now. Any food right now is just adding to the problem. Fish will not starve without food for days. Most mature fish will easily last a week and juveniles will last a long time especially if overfeeding has occured.

Did a bunch of food get dumped in the tank accidently?


Was there any new fish add recently?

Last edited by openwater at 07-Feb-2005 20:51

He changes the water frequently now....but he didn't start until almost a month into having fish. Is it possible to get a really strong filter? Tank has been cycled for about 3 months and there has been no accidental spill of food.

Thank you SO much for your help.