Where Did My Nitrite Go?

[timtim366]

So for three weeks i have been cycling my 55 gallon tank with 4 gold fish. i have been really patient and careful. Other then my tap water conditioner, the only thing i have added was a couple doses of stress zyme when i have done water changes.

ANYWAY. after three weeks of cycling, two nights ago i got a spike of nitrite (about 1 ppm.). having an ammoinia level of >6 i was very excited that my poor goldfish might live beacuse my cycle was finally starting. but alas! i just tested the level (1.5 days later) and my ammonia is still <6 and i have no nitrite!

What happend

 

[fluttermoth]

You really should be doing water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrite at zero.

Your tank will still cycle with a level of ammonia that's too small to show up on our test kits but letting it get that high will be very, very bad for your fish and could kill or cause long term health problems for them which is not good, even if you're 'only' using them to cycle (which I should warn you is very frowned upon on this forum).

 

[4seasons]

You need a 95% water change and right now. After you do that go here and read how to do a fish in cycle: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/224306-fish-in-cycling/

 

[SandraNewbie]

That's a hell of a lot of fish to cycle that tank, you'll need to be doing a serious water change schedule for that, even once the filter is cycled.

How large are the goldfish currently?
What sort of filter is it?
Can you give us the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings for a couple of days in a row immediately before you do your water change?

And as 4seasons says, read the article on fish in cycling.