daily water changes?

[Apache]

Hi All,
Our planted 30 gal tank is about 7 weeks old, still cycling...

The ph is about 7 and NH3 is reading 0 , but the NO2 is still quite high (3.3+) after a 50% water change and vacuum on Saturday. I made two 10% water changes (no vacuuming), once on Sun, once today to try to help the NO2 level. The NO2 level has been this high for about 2 weeks, despite water changes. It doesn't seem to be working. Should I make daily 10% changes until the level drops or what?
I'm really at a loss. The fish are doing well, despite the high NO2 level, the water is clear, everyone's feeding well. I don't want to kill any of my "kids"!
Should I just wait this out or what? I'm frustrated. Thanks in advance!

 

[gadazobe]

If I understand correctly your ammonia levels are 0 but your nitrite are still relatively high. Nitrite is not so toxic to fish as ammonia, so that's most probably the reason that the fish are still ok. You can do daily 10% water changes, but that will increase the time the cycle takes to complete, but on the other hand, it will keep the fish happier. I'd wait it out if I were you.

 

[Da_Oz]

Are the plants growing?? I ask this cause in most planted tanks you should never even when new have that high of a reading. But maybe what I call a planted tank is different from what you got. But if you plant a new tank good it can cycle in a matter of days not weeks. If posabile take a water sample to your lfs and have them test it. The plants should be eating this up and if nothing else they would be growing alright from all of it.

 

[Apache]

Thanks for the advice... It's alittle confusing to me since the tests we use (Tetratest), test for pH, total ammonia (NH3 & NH4) and nitrites (NO2)... What about nitrates? I find it all pretty confusing... Either way, according to the tests are nitrites are at stressful levels...

By a planted tank, I guess my definition is we recently put in 2 amazon swords and chain sword plant (the oldest plant is 3 weeks, the youngest is 1 week), so don't know if that qualifies as planed, per se...

 

[gadazobe]

Nitrates are the end product of the cycle and are not toxic if kept within acceptable levels (between 20-40 ) Once they start appearing, your nitrite levels should go down. Your plants will use some of the nitrate produced and regular water changes will keep it at acceptable levels

 

[Apache]

Well, the nitrite levels are finally seeming to go down abit (1.8ml/g) at the last test...