Testing Water: Fish-In Cycle

[slimeneo]

Hi guys, I have a 10 gallon tank with 10 fish total, 5 platys and 5 gold barbs. I know I put way too many fish in too early, but at the time no one informed me of cycling and I thought it was okay. Thankfully, I ran across this forum and found lots of information on how to cycle with fish

For the past week I've done water changes (25% today, but generally 80% last week) nearly everyday that I could. I just received my water testing kit today, so I don't know how conditions were last week

HOWEVER, I did manage to get mature filter media from Petco last Thursday.

Here's todays test results, one without flash and one with flash (AFTER 25% water change):

What I interpret:
pH 7.6
ammonia 0ppm
nitrite 1-2ppm
nitrate 10-20ppm

Nitrite is pretty high, but I'm not sure what to do about it because I already did a water change Also, is the high nitrate okay? I read that it's normal to have nitrates, but they are harmful in high levels.

 

[phoenixgsd]

i think the nitrate level is acceptable but as you say the nitrite level is leathal, you need to do large regular water changes, if that means twice in one day then so be it, thats the joy of fish in cycles (i remember it well ) it is a tedius long job

 

[slimeneo]

ahh, more water changes, alright xD what is acceptable for nitrites though, should it be 0 for it to be safe?

 

[pablothebetta]

I'm in agreement with the above here with large water changes to get rid of that nitrite. It's pretty lethal stuff and you want to get it as low as possible.

If we take nitrite as being at 1.75ppm (going for the middle here), a 90% water change will take that to 0.175ppm. I'd be tempted to still try to get rid of that even further though and do at least a 50% change to get that even lower. I'd take out enough water as possible, leaving just enough to cover the fish and allow them to move around.

No doubt all the w/cs shall become very tedious, but you'll be doing the right thing for your fish and things will settle in time

 

[phoenixgsd]

yes both ammonia and nitrite should be 0, some nitrates are ok especially if you have real plants

 

[slimeneo]

Oh no, I didn't know it was lethal ( I'l be sure to do an 80% water change tomorrow, since my parents are definitely not going to let me do another one today. x.x

Although, I don't know why nitrites are high because I read online and it said that it's usually a result of overfeeding, except I haven't fed them in the last 2-3 days (I was away). I cleaned some of the poop from the gravel today as well

 

[phoenixgsd]

the cycle starts with ammonia hence why some artifically do this with fishless cycling, the ammonia turns in to nitrite then when the ammonia and nitrite levels stay at 0ppm your tank is almost done but this takes weeks, my fish in cycle lasted months

 

[slimeneo]

Yeah, but I got mature filter media from petco, so it should be significantly faster (hopefully)

 

[4seasons]

Oh no, I didn't know it was lethal ( I'l be sure to do an 80% water change tomorrow, since my parents are definitely not going to let me do another one today. x.x

Although, I don't know why nitrites are high because I read online and it said that it's usually a result of overfeeding, except I haven't fed them in the last 2-3 days (I was away). I cleaned some of the poop from the gravel today as well

By tomorrow your fish will be dead. What you have there is the first stage of bacteria that turn ammonia (that fish produce) into nitrite at a rate of 1:2.7ppm. But your nitrite eating bacteria hasn't caught up to the cycle enough yet to turn it into nitrates. Nitrates are ok as long as your test isn't showing red. Nitrites will start killing fish at as low a .5ppm. You need a 90% water change to get that 2ppm nitrite down to less than .25ppm and you need it yesterday. Tomorrow won't work. Although while cycling a tank you will probably be doing another large water change tomorrow too. And the next day, and the day after that, until you show no ammonia or nitrites for a week straight you will need large water changes everyday too keep your fish alive.

 

[slimeneo]

Okay, I did a 50% water change just now. I'll test it again in 10 minutes (or later).

 

[slimeneo]

Okay, I just retested it and it's dropped to... .5 ppm I think? it's so hard to tell

 

[Ruskull]

These posters are giving you good advice. Nitrites are never, ever supposed to be that high. It appears the mature media you got from Petco is probably the "ammonia converting to nitrite" type and there was little or no "nitrite to nitrate" type. Good thing it's just a 10 gallon with nitrites that high. It's much easier to do multiple water changes to get it below .25 ppm at the very least. Any higher & I'd be surprised if your fish survive the night.

 

[slimeneo]

D: well I already did 2 water changes today, I got yelled at from my parents so looks like they'll just have to bear the .5 nitrite for now (

(my parents are really strict...... let's just say we're really conservative when it comes to water, even saving the cold water that we let run in the beginning of showers until the water is warm. and less toilet flushes. yep.)

 

[Ruskull]

Okay, I just retested it and it's dropped to... .5 ppm I think? it's so hard to tell

I'm afraid you need another 50-75% change. Just don't tell your mom it's another water change, let her think it's the same one

If it helps tell them you'll save the water from the change to flush the toilet!

 

[slimeneo]

Okay, I just retested it and it's dropped to... .5 ppm I think? it's so hard to tell

I'm afraid you need another 50-75% change. Just don't tell your mom it's another water change, let her think it's the same one

If it helps tell them you'll save the water from the change to flush the toilet!

she said she's never heard of anyone changing the water so many times and that I'm "too serious" about it.