New Aquarist...with Ph And Nitrite Issues!

[Amaria]

Hello everyone
I bought a fish tank (Interpet Fish Box 64 Lt, with a PF2 filter) and it has been bubbling away for the past 8 days.

Fishless; I Read so much about "torturing the fishes if using them in a new tank" that I did not dare buying any and just put gravel, plants (real and fake and a central piece), filter, heater and thermometer.

I was told to wait for a week, at first.Then I got it tested and the nitrite level was sky high

I keep testing the water religiously-and adding bacterial stuff ("Filter start" at first then "Tap safe" and lately " nutrafin Cycle"...)but the level of Nitrite is really high-going all pink straight away- and I don't really want to put fishes to die in there
(on the other hand, the kids are pestering me every day to go and get some fish... when is that gonna happen?! Too late now to follow the brilliant alternative method to cycling
!!
What do you advise me to do?

Other problem; we are in a hard water area (Woking) and despite everything the PH is 8.5 which is not ideal...I read that if I put some product to chemically change that, the amount of mineral will remain the same and the PH will go back to normal=stress for the (future) fishes...

Thanks for your help
Amaria

 

[fluffycabbage]

Hello everyone
I bought a fish tank (Interpet Fish Box 64 Lt, with a PF2 filter) and it has been bubbling away for the past 8 days.

Fishless; I Read so much about "torturing the fishes if using them in a new tank" that I did not dare buying any and just put gravel, plants (real and fake and a central piece), filter, heater and thermometer.

I was told to wait for a week, at first.Then I got it tested and the nitrite level was sky high

I keep testing the water religiously-and adding bacterial stuff ("Filter start" at first then "Tap safe" and lately " nutrafin Cycle"...)but the level of Nitrite is really high-going all pink straight away- and I don't really want to put fishes to die in there
(on the other hand, the kids are pestering me every day to go and get some fish... when is that gonna happen?! Too late now to follow the brilliant alternative method to cycling
!!
What do you advise me to do?

Other problem; we are in a hard water area (Woking) and despite everything the PH is 8.5 which is not ideal...I read that if I put some product to chemically change that, the amount of mineral will remain the same and the PH will go back to normal=stress for the (future) fishes...

Thanks for your help
Amaria

Ok you need to read the beginners post here - http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/
read absolutely everything if you dont want your fish to die - its as simple as that! Im afraid your kids will have to wait x

(oh my ph is 8-8.5, and ive kept fish successfully for a few months now - you just need to choose the right ones for you water )

 

[Amaria]

Thank you Fluffy cabbage (got the feeling to insult you : what a funny pseudo. )
I will read that doc, then....already read quite a bit on the subject, but this website seems to give info more simply than any came across before.
Will let you know......

 

[SuperColey1]

Any piccies? tell a thousand words ya know

AC