Nitrites Still Too High

[dirtydog]

Hi all, great forum ive been on a bit the last few weeks- good job!

Anyway im trying to cycle my first tank (that I own anyway) Ive got 3 zebra danios in there at the mo.
My Nitrite is high and the fish have been in just over a couple of weeks. Reading some beginner stuff and faqs on here it seems that water changes should bring it down but I couldnt work out if that applies to me as im still cycling? Will the nitrite suddenly reduce quickly?

Thanks for any help and sorry if this is elsewhere I read so much i got confused...

 

[Miss Wiggle]

this is part of the cyclng process, first you'll get an ammonia spike, then a nitrite spike, then your done. your part way through the second phase so nearly there.

if you haven't been doing water changes so far you should be, test your water every day, if you get any readings for ammonia or nitrite that aren't 0 then do a 10% water change, you'll probably need to do this every day for a couple of weeks.

 

[dirtydog]

this is part of the cyclng process, first you'll get an ammonia spike, then a nitrite spike, then your done. your part way through the second phase so nearly there.

if you haven't been doing water changes so far you should be, test your water every day, if you get any readings for ammonia or nitrite that aren't 0 then do a 10% water change, you'll probably need to do this every day for a couple of weeks.

ok thanks ive only done 1 20% water change so far so ill start today doing the daily changes i'm already doing water tests every day.
thanks for the help!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

no problem

 

[dirtydog]

no problem

done a 10-15% yesterday and the same today and levels are lower already. Ill continue until my nitrite reads 0 right? Then after it stays at 0 for 24hours im done and can switch to weekly maintenance?

Also, I might have put too much declorinator in the other day would that cause any probs? My tank is around 90ltrs so the amount is quite small on a 10% change.

cheers

 

[Miss Wiggle]

no problem

done a 10-15% yesterday and the same today and levels are lower already. Ill continue until my nitrite reads 0 right? Then after it stays at 0 for 24hours im done and can switch to weekly maintenance?

Also, I might have put too much declorinator in the other day would that cause any probs? My tank is around 90ltrs so the amount is quite small on a 10% change.

cheers

yup, when you stop doing daily changes just test the water for a few days afterwards to make sure it's definately stable..... but yes then go down to weekly 20-30% changes.

should be fine, dechlor's not too harmful, obviously it might be if you chucked a whole bottle in a 5g tank.... but to go a little over is no biggie

 

[navy]

I thought doing water changes slows your cycling process down? I started doing those daily water changes and I noticed that it did slow it down, then I stopped and now its seems to be cycling faster. Most people on forums and a few LFS have told me that it does slow down cycling (even if its JUST the water).

So miss wiggle you are saying that if the nitrites are high do daily water changes, until it hits 0, wait til its stable and then the tank should be cycled?

I'm so confused, as informationa about water changes during cycling can be so conflicting!

*sigh* I hope somebody invent some magic potion that will cycle the tank in 1 day lol

 

[dirtydog]

*sigh* I hope somebody invent some magic potion that will cycle the tank in 1 day lol

yeah blag some free mature media it seems

 

[navy]

yeah blag some free mature media it seems

that still won't cycle it in a day lol...but it was speed up the cycle greatly. how did you go with your water changes dirtydog? did it help?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

I thought doing water changes slows your cycling process down? I started doing those daily water changes and I noticed that it did slow it down, then I stopped and now its seems to be cycling faster. Most people on forums and a few LFS have told me that it does slow down cycling (even if its JUST the water).

So miss wiggle you are saying that if the nitrites are high do daily water changes, until it hits 0, wait til its stable and then the tank should be cycled?

I'm so confused, as informationa about water changes during cycling can be so conflicting!

*sigh* I hope somebody invent some magic potion that will cycle the tank in 1 day lol

it may well slow it down, but it also keeps the levels of ammonia and nitrite down to an acceptable level so your fish don't die.

cycling with fish is a tricky business and can often take quite some time unless your prepared to accept massive losses

 

[dirtydog]

yes just done another one now but no time to test ill do it later on. nitrite and nitrate levels have come down a fair bit already thanks so im much happier.
its also taking some of the colouring out due to the bogwood which is nice.
just got the 3 danios in there for now and they seem great and Im not getting anything else until its finished.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

glad to hear it, soubnds like your getting it under control