Can I Do This?

[Marnee]

I have another thread about my nitrite levels but thought I should start a new one for this question. I am doing a fish in cycle and although my ammonia is always 0 my nitrite after a daily 75% water change is 0 but within 24 hrs. it will rise to .05ppm or slightly higher. My bottle of Prime says to detoxify nitrite in an emergence up to 5 times the normal dose may by used. So my question is: About 12hrs into the water change which is also 12hrs prior the the next water change (I do them every 24 hrs) can I add about 3 - 5 mls. of Prime? Hoping this will keep it at 0 until this tank is cycled. It is a 50 gallon tank.

 

[Marnee]

anyone?

 

[The Taffy Apple]

I really wouldn't rely on allowing Prime to do the job that water changes should be doing...continue with your daily water changes until Ammonia and NitrIte are at a constant '0' and your NitrAtes are as near as your tap water as possible.

Terry.

 

[Marnee]

Thanks, I tested nitrite this morning and it was 0, I did do a small water change though to clean up some of the sand. Tested again tonight and still 0 so maybe well on the way to being cycled. Only took 2 weeks, using the mature media from the other tank must have really given this cycle quite a boost.

 

[OldMan47]

Marnee your water changes need to take care of both ammonia and nitrites. As long as they do that, your chemistry will be fine for your fish. I hesitate to make any other judgements because we all use unique methods to control our chemistry. As long as we control all contaminants within specs, our fish do well.