Nitrites are high!

[ruecole]

I got some test kits (the store didn't have any nitrate kits in stock, so I still have to get that one) and just did a test on my water. The ammonia levels were at 0, but the nitrites were at 1.0!

I noticed the danios were swimming through the plants and brushing up against the gravel a lot today. The poor things' skin must be burning!

What do I do now? A water change? And how much?

Thanks, everyone, for your great advice so far!

Rue

[ruecole]

Well, I did a water change (about 25%) and the nitrites are still high. I did add some more Cycle, but I know that'll still take at least 24 hours to kick in. It's too late tonight to do another water change and the fish don't seem too distressed right now (no gasping or floating at the top, thank goodness), so I guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed everybody is still alive tomorrow morning when I can do another water change!

Ugh. Hard lesson to learn.

Rue

[Dave66]

Fifty-percent, ruecole, daily until nitrite is zero. And you're right, your fish are uncomfortable because nitrite is highly toxic to them.

Dave

[gm72]

This is exactly why fishless cycling is the way to go.

Dave has it right, just follow his advice.

[MeganL3985]

Since Dave and GM didn't mention, I wanted to chime in for a sec.

Adding cycle isn't going to help anything in your tank. If you want to add something that will cycle your tank you need to go with something like Bio-spira or something refrigerated.

[Lady Hobbs]

Too late now for bio spira. It needs to go in the tank either the day before the fish go in or at the same time. Doesn't work once a cycle has begun.

I agree with the others here. Do water changes to bring the nitrites down to a safe range. It takes longer for the nitrites to disappear than it does the ammonia sometimes so just be patient and keep up with those water changes as needed. Do NO cleaning nor change out your filter media.

[MeganL3985]

Oh really? I didnt know that it didn't work once I cycle had begun. Maybe thats why it didn't work for the guy/girl that posted about it not working a few days ago....

[Lady Hobbs]

You're also supposed to remove the carbon filter and not use any ammonia reducing products at all. And of course start with a reasonable amount of fish.

Bio spira keeps the toxins out of the danger zone but once those toxins are present, will not work to reduce them.

It's really too expensive to not use as the directions state or you're just flushing your money.

[gm72]

Great points, and thanks for jumping in, Megan. Cycle is snake oil.

[Lady Hobbs]

I wish I'd have had bio spira last week when I removed the gravel subtrate to add the Soil Master Select and planting this tank of mine. Since I removed the gravel, I now am going thru an annoying cycle with the tank. And to add to it, changed the subtract in my 55 tank as well so now trying to recycle both. Using the old filter media didn't help me any.

bla....I hate having a tank get set back.

[ruecole]

Thanks, everyone.

I did a 50% water change and now the nitrites are down to 0.5. Is it too soon to do another water change tonight? I won't have time to do one tomorrow (at least until tomorrow night) and don't really want my fishies too suffer much more than they have.

What can I say? I know I did it all wrong. Now I just have to deal with the consequences. :ssad:

As for the Cycle, I don't know if it's helping or not, but since I've already got it, I figure it can't hurt any worse than what I'm already doing. :rolleyes:

Rue

[ruecole]

So I got the nitrites down to .25 ppm (could even be lower, the colour seems kinda halfway between 0 and .25) and they haven't gone back up. I was going to do one more water change to completely eliminate the nitrites, but then thought, if I remove them all, won't the nitrite eating bacteria stop producing?

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

Rue

[gm72]

I'd stay where you are and keep monitoring closely.

[ruecole]

Thanks, I'll definitely do that!

Rue

[ruecole]

Yay! This morning the nitrite levels in the 20g are at 0 ppm!!!! :19:

But I'm guessing I'm not completely out of the woods yet, as the readings need to be 0 for three days straight before the tank's officially done cycling, correct?

Thanks again for all the help, everyone!

Rue