My tank finished cycling a little more than 2 weeks ago. Tank is 55 gallon planted tank. I had 3 days of consistant readings ammonia 0 nitrites 0 and nitrates 5 (API Master Kit). I added a pair of Angelfish. I realized this would probably be more than my bacterial colony would be prepared to handle. I fish-in cycled with 2 large Zebra Danios (they did just fine). I have eco-complete substrate and used supplemental bacteria and my ammonia and nitrites both spiked and came down very quickly. The Angelfish are adults, maybe 4 inch each. I kept a close eye and everything stayed steady (yay!). Well, the Angelfish started really fighting after spawning, and the male got a spot on his lip from it-nothing to bad, but I was afraid with the new tank it would get an infection. I added 5 flame tetras 5 days after the Angels (last Friday). Sooner than I wanted, but I figured a mini-cycle was better than the fighting. The tetras worked, no more fighting, but I did get a very small reading of ammonia the next day. I did a 25% waterchange, and it's been gone since. Here's the puzzling part- I have since had nitrites reading 0.25ppm (the lowest reading next to zero) and water changes do not lower them. I test immediately after a water change and it's the same. I have been doing WC's every-other day. Soo..
Is it giving that reading constantly because maybe they are pretty close to zero? I still have Nitrates.
Should I continue to do every-other day water changes, back off, or step them up?
Do I need to wait until I get a total 0 reading to add more flame tetras (these guys are pretty small)? I would like to have a couple more since they are schooling fish (final stocklist will be 2 angels, 15 flames, 5 bolivian rams, and a pleco of some sort).
Is there anything I can do to lower the Nitrites, besides WC?
Do my plant ferts make them worse, if so should I back off?
And finally- how much damage will the .25ppm do to fish potentially? All of the fish are acting find and displaying really excellent colors and behaviors.
Is it giving that reading constantly because maybe they are pretty close to zero? I still have Nitrates.
Should I continue to do every-other day water changes, back off, or step them up?
Do I need to wait until I get a total 0 reading to add more flame tetras (these guys are pretty small)? I would like to have a couple more since they are schooling fish (final stocklist will be 2 angels, 15 flames, 5 bolivian rams, and a pleco of some sort).
Is there anything I can do to lower the Nitrites, besides WC?
Do my plant ferts make them worse, if so should I back off?
And finally- how much damage will the .25ppm do to fish potentially? All of the fish are acting find and displaying really excellent colors and behaviors.
