New mbuna's but bad water parameters

[papasmurfwil]

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.
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.

 

[papasmurfwil]

Forgot to mention, Ph is stable at 8.2, african cichlid salt is also present in moderate amounts.

 

[alexmuw]

You should be ok, just keep up with the water changes. I don't know the exact bacteria names, but the bacteria that converts nitrite to nitrate is still in insufficient numbers. Only time will allow the population to grow.

You stated your Nitrates are increasing (good sign), so just keep up with the water changes. I don't know the toxicity levels of nitrite, but I would guess if it's anything like ammonia, then anything above 1ppm you could start seeing floaters (although it should be 0ppm).

Good luck and keep us updated

 

[papasmurfwil]

You should be ok, just keep up with the water changes. I don't know the exact bacteria names, but the bacteria that converts nitrite to nitrate is still in insufficient numbers. Only time will allow the population to grow.

You stated your Nitrates are increasing (good sign), so just keep up with the water changes. I don't know the toxicity levels of nitrite, but I would guess if it's anything like ammonia, then anything above 1ppm you could start seeing floaters (although it should be 0ppm).

Good luck and keep us updated

Thanks, Just did a 50% water change. Most of the fish are eating and swimming just fine. There seems to be no noticeable effects yet.