Lowering Nitrite

[jschall]

I am trying to get these fish big quick. I only feed them 2-3 a day at the moment. Will try to feed a little less.

Are you serious? You're killing them. Just stop feeding entirely or feed an eighth of what you have been.

It's hard for them to get big when they can't breathe because ammonia has burned their gills permanently. It's also hard for them to get big when they're dead.

 

[TheCanuck]

It's hard for them to get big if you kill them first. Stop feeding until you actually get your tank cycled, it's a cesspool right now. They can go without food for multiple weeks if need be.

x2

You need to wait till the nitrite goes down itself, i would also add more biomedia, so then when the tank cycles your crazy feeding habbits can be tolerated.

 

[flipstylex]

Feed them once a day. and keep up with the water changes, like 3 times a week, and you;ll be ok.

 

[BODYDUB]

Try using some of your gravel from your cycled tank. Just put about a cup full into a cut piece of nylon sock or fish netting to transfer some good bacteria into your new tank. And using water from an established tank doesn't really do much as far as helping the cycle process. But like others have said, cut down on the feeding and do w/c's every day till your cycle is complete.......

 

[ward1066]

add some prime, feed lightly once a day, do small water changes every 2-3 days and add more prime. relax

 

[Austin]

Why should he continue feeding? Just curious since you people seem to think that's a good idea? There is no need for daily feeding ESPECIALLY when he doesn't even have his tank cycled properly or have a firm grasp on the process itself....

 

[ward1066]

Why should he continue feeding? Just curious since you people seem to think that's a good idea? There is no need for daily feeding ESPECIALLY when he doesn't even have his tank cycled properly or have a firm grasp on the process itself....

the bio bed needs food (poop) to grow properly, not enough poop, not enough food for bacteria to grow. daily water changes and removal of poop doesn't help either.

 

[cichlid2006]

the bio bed needs food (poop) to grow properly, not enough poop, not enough food for bacteria to grow. daily water changes and removal of poop doesn't help either.

BB does indeed need food to grow but it can do so without feeeding everyday. fish gills excrete ammonia. even BB can get overwhelmed with ammonia so it needs to be reduced to a managable level by water changes and reduced feedings.
the BB will still grow just fine.

to the OP, look to the stickies at the top of this section for info on cycling and filtration in general.

 

[Austin]

the bio bed needs food (poop) to grow properly, not enough poop, not enough food for bacteria to grow. daily water changes and removal of poop doesn't help either.

Sounds like you need to do a little research to bud....

 

[ward1066]

Sounds like you need to do a little research to bud....

I said feed light every day, feeding light every day has never killed any of my fish. people get too worked up about water changes and cycling, it isnt necessary with good products like prime. If you do water changes every day and quit feeding and take the enjoyment out of the hobby it just adds unnecessary stress and delays the cycle . low levels of nitrites isn't a big deal, maybe you need to do some research.