Mark Sperry

Thanks! I have limited space and a large tank so I doubt a tote will work but it’s a good idea. Not sure what I will do. Called the water company today.

Hello everyone. I have an issue that I think has been potentially killing fish after water changes. I have a 75 gallon, well-established planted tank with rainbow fish, clown loaches, and assortment of tetras. It Is generally fairly stable. However, over the years I have noticed that occasionally after water changes I would lose a fish or two. I thought it might be temperature fluctuation or just maybe stress related to being overdue for a water change. Today, I used a python water change system today for the first time. I have checked my source tap water previously and never really noticed an elevated nitrite level ..But I have not checked in a while. Today, I performed a 33% water change with the python and did everything appropriately regarding adding prime (10 cc for for my 75 gallon tank) and also i kept temperature stable. I happened to check my source tapwater and noticed that it had nitrite and nitrate as per the photo. 50 ppm nitrate and 1 ppm nitrite.. 0 ammonia. The tank itself is showing essentially zero nitrite and 40 ppm nitrate (otherwise stable pH etc). About 30 minutes after the water change, a silver tip tetra showed signs of stress. He has swimming in the corner of the top of the tank. I added 5 cc of additional Prime but my bigger question is what to do from here about my tap water. I don’t want to do RO etc. any thoughts on options for that level of nitrite in tap water? I think it is killing my fish with water changes. Thanks so much.