1. Setup a new 55 gal tank and had it cycled properly w/fluval from an older tank and some fish.
2. Place fish in another tank.
3. Overly cleaned gravel(mistake #1) and changed 50% water. Applied prime after water was added to the tank not before(mistake #2).
4. Setup another brand new 405. Total of 2 Fluval's 405's
5. New fish arrived a couple days later (mistake #3).
6. Added 20 small 2-3" african mbuna cichlids without checking water parameters.
7. Next day Nitrite levels are at 5ppm, Nitrates are low, Ammonia is low. Freak out and change 25% of water. Nitrites drop to 1ppm. Applied 4x prime.
8. Next day Nitrite levels are at 5ppm again, Nitrates are medium, Amonia is 0. Changed 50% of water. Nitrites drop to 1ppm. Applied 4x prime.
9. Did 50% for the past 3 days. Nitrites are always at 5ppm before waterchange and 1ppm afterwards. Nitrates get as high as 10ppm.
In order to speed the cycle of beneficial bacteria to grow, I have added another cycled fiter from another tank. So now i have 2 Fluval 405's and 1 aquaclear 70. How much longer will the nitrites linger high? Should i do larger water changes? Trying everything i can to save the fish from my mistakes. Ph is at 8.2, African salt added in moderate amounts, 3 air stones.
Posted in another thread but realized I'd probably getter faster responses here.
2. Place fish in another tank.
3. Overly cleaned gravel(mistake #1) and changed 50% water. Applied prime after water was added to the tank not before(mistake #2).
4. Setup another brand new 405. Total of 2 Fluval's 405's
5. New fish arrived a couple days later (mistake #3).
6. Added 20 small 2-3" african mbuna cichlids without checking water parameters.
7. Next day Nitrite levels are at 5ppm, Nitrates are low, Ammonia is low. Freak out and change 25% of water. Nitrites drop to 1ppm. Applied 4x prime.
8. Next day Nitrite levels are at 5ppm again, Nitrates are medium, Amonia is 0. Changed 50% of water. Nitrites drop to 1ppm. Applied 4x prime.
9. Did 50% for the past 3 days. Nitrites are always at 5ppm before waterchange and 1ppm afterwards. Nitrates get as high as 10ppm.
In order to speed the cycle of beneficial bacteria to grow, I have added another cycled fiter from another tank. So now i have 2 Fluval 405's and 1 aquaclear 70. How much longer will the nitrites linger high? Should i do larger water changes? Trying everything i can to save the fish from my mistakes. Ph is at 8.2, African salt added in moderate amounts, 3 air stones.
Posted in another thread but realized I'd probably getter faster responses here.
