water parameters

[JacopoFishy]

nitrite: 1-2 ppm
nitrate: 20 ppm
ammonia: 0 ppm
pH: 7.7
temperature: 78 degrees farenheidt
last water change: 1 week ago
10 gallon tank, see signature for fish


what am I doing wrong and how do I fix it?
.....or am I paranoid and these water parameters are actually okay?
my tank has been established for approximately 2 months now.
The pH has always been a bit high, once it was 82.!

thanx

 

[clutterydrawer]

your nitrIte needs to be lower I'm afraid

Could you tell me a bit about how you cycled the tank? eg, with or without fish, how long it took, what readings you got, what readings you have seen since?

 

[LadyMinion]

Those nitrites are too high - sounds like you're in the middle of a spike. Everything else seems fine, but you need to do a large (50%) water change straight away before those nitrites reach toxic levels.

 

[JacopoFishy]

thanx guys.
will do a 50% water change as soon as I can.

I cycled my tank for three days without fish (didn't know any better then that I should've let it cycle for longer). Then I started out with my black sailfin molly, two balloon mollies, and a gold molly.

The last recorded water parameter readings I have (I keep a chart of them in my laptop) are from September 6th of this year. The nitrite was somewhere between 1 and 5 ppm. I remember why the range is so big, I couldn't tell which shade the color was according to the chart.

I've taken 2 readings since then, but I conveiniently misplaced the piece of paper they were on. (laptop had decided to be poo) go me. )

Will my fishies be okay? should I buy anything from my LFS to help the spike end?

 

[clutterydrawer]

hiya


I have a feeling your tank never truly cycled at all - the term "cycling" refers to the establishment of all the bacteria needed for the nitrogen cycle. your best ebst is to test your water frequently and do enoguh water changes to keep your nitrite under 1ppm. when it stays at zero without water changes, your tnak has fully cycled, then you'll only need to change water once a week.

 

[Fiddlesticks]

I would agree with cluttery. It sounds like your in the last leg of the cycle, which is the longest part. Do water changes every couple days and test the water every day. Plan water changes around the results. When it starts staying at zero for a few days your home free. It sounds like alot of work, but your fish will thank you.

 

[JacopoFishy]

nitrite's down to 0.25 ppm.
not 0, but I'll take it for now.
hopefully in a little bit it'll be completely gone. thanx.