Nitrites during cycle...

[enchanted]

At what level should a water change occur?

Currently:
Ammonia 0-.25
Nitrites .50
PH 7.8
Nitrates 0-5

At what point should I worry about a water change? I already did a 30% earlier today.......

 

[shrimpster97]

I would say once a week and do 20 to 25%

 

[modernhamlet]

If you're in the middle of a cycle and you're using fish, then it is essential to do as many water changes as necessary to keep both the ammonia and nitrite levels below 1.0, particularly with your slightly basic pH. Ammonia and nitrite are far more deadly to fish at higher pH. If this means 25% water changes daily, then by all means do so...

It will make the cycling process take longer, but your fish will thank you for it.

good luck!

 

[lucky62]

If you're in the middle of a cycle and you're using fish, then it is essential to do as many water changes as necessary to keep both the ammonia and nitrite levels below 1.0, particularly with your slightly basic pH. Ammonia and nitrite are far more deadly to fish at higher pH. If this means 25% water changes daily, then by all means do so...

It will make the cycling process take longer, but your fish will thank you for it.

good luck!

true , and the fish are what it's[ this is ] all about .

 

[enchanted]

Well, I got caught by a fluke. Between double filters my top tank was showing amonia less than .25 and nitrites 0 and nitrates 0-5 so my LFS and I both thought the cycle was 95% or better complete.

My lower tank was cycling but the heater blew up so I moved the fish and the filter up to the top tank, and learned I was actually wrong. The minute I moved the filter and let it run for a few hours ammonia (which had spiked to almost 1) dropped to 0-.25 and Nitrates went up to .5.

The cycling that had begun w/ this same filter on the 30G long I have had kicked in full force on the lower 55G, but had never begun on the top one.

So, now I am in the middle of a cycle w/ more fish. Something I was trying hard to avoid.

And to make matters more fun, my sister and nieces brought over a belated birthday present of 6 more!