My tap water has high Nitrites (1.6), so water changes are HUGE PIA for me. Bottled water is the only way to fix this problem, assuming it's high quality, but can you imagine water changes for a 55 Gallon like that? And I have the Python, so it's not exactly easy to fill from a container of bottled water with that. Impossible probably.

Anyone else have high Nitrites directly out of the tap? What do you do about it? I have to use a lot of Prime to get rid of it when I refill my tanks. I worry about using too much of it, but what can you do? Can't risk hurting the poor fishies.

And another question regarding the python: how often do you bleach/clean yours? "Fancy Goldfish" (the book) recommends having 2 hoses - one for removing water, one for refilling. Does everyone follow that rule? I only bought one hose when I purchased mine. Do I have to purchase another one if I am using it only for one tank?

Bumpety bump.

Well, my 55 Gal. is not so bad as the tank is cycled so params. are usually perfect 24/7. Every once in a while the ammonia creeps up to .25 from 0, but I add something like Amquel to bring it back down immediately.

But my hospital tank is the problem. Every 24 hours the Nitrites spike, (I keep it salted .3% anyway) and the usual fix being a water change only makes the condition worse because the tap water is worse than the water I'm removing.

I always worry that I have to put soooooo much Prime in it to bring the Nitrites down to normal, because I'm not sure if that is depleting oxygen content or not. Since no one is answering my question of whether too much Prime can hurt my goldie, I will just continue to assume high Nitrites are worse than too much Prime in the water.

I'll be happy when Oscar goes back in the main tank with his buddies. Going to do that this weekend.

Hi Lola,

I have a high amonia content in my tap water that I fight every water change. I use Amquel+ once a week in my QT tank and my fish seems fine. I have a small airstone and a whisper 10 on it. As long as your detoxing the tank you should be ok.

we have shockingly high nitrates in our tap water (London), so I have a nitrate filter on my tank. It still needs recharging every fortnight (to do that I run salt water through it), but it does take a lot, but not all of the nitrates out.
bw
cupoftea