Nitrite Spike

[Helium_Junkie]

This has just started happening in my new tank, the Ammonia level has been steadily dropping from its high of 0.5 to 0.1 yesterday (yet to test today) and the nitrites have very suddenly risen from .1 to about 5 parts per million.
I think this means the cycle is going ok, right?

The question is, is this level of nitrite going to kill my little tetras?
(And don't go into fishless cycling or using tetras, its been done to death )

 

[Tropjunky]

yes. u need to have zero ammonia and nitrites.

 

[Stryker]

The dropping ammo levels means the first stage bacteria are developed. The rise in nitrites indicates the waste of the first stage bacteria is building up. Now the second stage nitrite to nitrate bacteria will form.

Nitrittes will drop in a week or two.

Nitrites are not as poisonous to fish than ammonia.

 

[karrihug]

you need to do a water change. i had neons when my first tank cycled, and they all came through it fine. but you need to keep up with water changes to keep the nitrites down. it slows the cycle somewhat, but your fish will do much better.

 

[Helium_Junkie]

you need to do a water change. i had neons when my first tank cycled, and they all came through it fine. but you need to keep up with water changes to keep the nitrites down. it slows the cycle somewhat, but your fish will do much better.

Thats been the plan so far I will continue then

What bugs me is the fact that we'll mini-cycle every time we add a fish won't we.
When Ammonia reaches 0 should I add more fish to keep the cycle going or wait for Nitrites to = 0 and then start a mini-cycle?

 

[FrankSlapperinni]

mini-cycle every time we add a fish won't we.

Well not exactly. The term "Cycling" refers to the development bacterial colony's in your tank. The hard part is for bacteria to get into your tank and form a colony. Once they're in, they will grow much quicker, and when more fish are added all of the two types of bacteria will multiply simultaneously, and shorten the time needed for more bacteria to colonize.

 

[Helium_Junkie]

mini-cycle every time we add a fish won't we.

Well not exactly. The term "Cycling" refers to the development bacterial colony's in your tank. The hard part is for bacteria to get into your tank and form a colony. Once they're in, they will grow much quicker, and when more fish are added all of the two types of bacteria will multiply simultaneously, and shorten the time needed for more bacteria to colonize.

Thanks for that, and thanks for all the replies everyone

Last Q: what level is considered high for Nitrites, and what level is considered way too high?

 

[clutterydrawer]

It seems that the bacteria colony will increase very quickly with new fish, as long as you don't totally overdo it. I've put up to fur small fish in at once before, and not had any increase in ammonia or nitrites.

like someone said, nitrites are not as toxic, and I have a bottle of some kinda medication somewhere that even states levels up to 0.3 are safe! I wouldn't try it myself tho.

 

[skimpy]

I have recently cycled my tank and at last feel it is actually matured.

With the first batch of fish my nitrites shot up to 1.0 and I had to do lots of water changes, 50% at a time it felt like forever.

With the second batch of fish my nitrites only shot up to 0.5 and I obviously i had to do more water changes.

With the third batch of fish my nitrites only shot up to 0.25, I still did water changes but only 15% every other day. This 0.25 spike lasted for about 10 days. I was advised at the time that 0.25 was not too bad for the fish that I had and if I changed the water too much it would take longer and longer to cycle, I had to let it run a little at 0.25 cos i needed my nitrAtes to establish themselves, so I followed this advice. I tested it sometimes twice a day to make sure that it did not rise above 0.25 AT ALL.

With my fourth batch of fish I have found no ammonia, and no nitrite spike at all (I tested everyday) and the only water changes i have done are my normal weekly maintenance change.

By the way, at the point of adding this forth batch fish i had noticed that I actually have green algae growing at last (prior to that I had only had brown algae). I was told that when the algae starts to you know you tank is maturing.

I am now entering the 10th week since my tank started so i would say that my tank matured fully at about 8 weeks (after the third batch of fish).

Good luck, hope you enjoy it all as much as I do.

 

[Aquascaper]

During my cycle my Nitrite levels were at 2ppm for about 1 - 2 weeks and all my fish survived (11 assorted tetras).

 

[love fishies]

I just got my 20 gallon cycled and added 4 long finned danios and I usually wait 2-3 weeks to add anymore, which will be soon. So as long as you don't add too many, usually one type of fish. Schooling fish have to be 4 or more at least so add taht many of that type of fish and you should be ok. I have had no problems with the tank since adding the danios.