Should I Welcome Nitrite?

freddy · 28-09-2011, 10:40 PM

Hi chums.

As some of you may be aware, I finished building my pond around May. I had the usual thing, NPS. As my Ammonia went up then fell away, to be replaced by Nitrite, I diluted the problem by doing water changes. As soon as my Nitrite got over 0.5, I tackled it. Now then, I'm now wondering if I should have just let it rise further? Davej said "I am guessing that if you haven't seen readings of +1mg/l of Nitrite in your testing then the filters haven't cycled" in another thread.

So, how high should one let Nitrite rise? At what point should action be taken? Darren at Absolute Koi said I should just let it do it's thing, just changing 10% of water a week. Any thoughts?

Cheers...Freddy.

Finflapper · 28-09-2011, 11:35 PM

One thing to think about freddy is that your second batch of nitro bacteria needs the nitrites to develope. While you dont want nitrites rocketing off the scale you also want a nice amount for the maturing. These little guys add a molecule of oxygen to make nitrate so oxygenated water through the filter is a big bonus. Live filter bacteria can help take down spikes and speed up maturing time of nps.

freddy · 29-09-2011, 07:25 PM

Hi Finflapper.

Thanks for your reply. Only thing is, it doesn't answer the question of how high to let it go? Obviously, I wouldn't want it to become TOO toxic.

Cheers...Freddy.

markf1fan · 29-09-2011, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freddy

Hi Finflapper.

Thanks for your reply. Only thing is, it doesn't answer the question of how high to let it go? Obviously, I wouldn't want it to become TOO toxic.

Cheers...Freddy.

Hiya Freddy

I know this is not good but i had nitrite at over 5 and ammonia well high as well. fish have come through it all ok. i would would wait for davej to come on and read this thread as he would be able to help you more. maybe he will say about adding salt to the pond but i will leave this to him.

Try and not worry to much mate as thats what i did and all worked out ok in the end.

mark

freddy · 29-09-2011, 08:44 PM

Hiya Mark.

You had Nitrite at over 5!! Now THAT is high. I'm not worried, as my levels are reasonably low...Ammonia less than 0.2 and Nitrite at around 0.25.

It's just that at SOME stage I think I need to allow levels to rise. I just need to know how high to let them rise.

Cheers...Freddy.

Davej · 29-09-2011, 08:55 PM

Hiya Freddy

At some time you may have to grasp the nettle but NOT NOW!

Temps are on the slide or will be in another couple of weeks so you are not gonna do anything other than give yourself a headache by stressing about things now.

Both pond and filter need to mature, you can do something about the filters but the pond will probably take several seasons.

If you stock lightly and panic too much during the maturation process then you will get a series of little spikes as bacteria develop and then probably die back as there isn’t enough food for the colony to grow. The tendency to panic is simply a natural reaction of a concerned and diligent Koi Keeper who only wants the best for the fish.

Salt provides a way of providing protection for the fish against the affects of Nitrite during the maturation process and it is the one time when I would be considering salt to the system. It gives some peace of mind that you have done what you can to protect the babes at this difficult time.

You can use Amquel+ to protect the fish from Ammonia and Nitrite in a small pond or QT; but it’s not cheap in the UK.

A spike of 1mg/l or more is a new set up is not uncommon, how long and how high it will get depends on a whole lot of things, temps, flow rates etc. Whether and when you start taking action such as cutting down on food, water changes, salt is a decision that you have to make based on how things are shaping up.

But as I said at the top with temps on the slide probably not a lot that can be done till May or June next season.

Remind us of the filters you are running?

Dave.

freddy · 29-09-2011, 09:03 PM

Hiya Dave.

At this stage, I'm certainly not going to panic

I'm just trying to become more aware of what I should and shouldn't allow.

I'm running an Econobead 60 after my Cetus sieve. The sieve is fed directly from my bottom drain. The pond is 2,000gals+

Cheers...Freddy.

Davej · 29-09-2011, 09:10 PM

Do you know the actual flow rate through the bead?

Dave

freddy · 29-09-2011, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davej

Do you know the actual flow rate through the bead?

Dave

Hiya Dave.

No, I don't. I run a Sequence 12,000. Apart from the filter itself, it has to run a head of around 2ft.

Cheers...Freddy.

freddy · 02-10-2011, 06:08 PM

Hi Dave.

Any thoughts on the pump? I'd have thought it was quite ample, yes?