Nitrite concerns. whats too high for a new tank (10 days old)

[88GT]

Heres my daily log readings give or take (some days I tested 2 times a day after a 25% water change)
Its a 60 gallon with 5 LEGAL 4" game fish.
1st few days no readings (our tap water ((well)) reads the same as where I got them)
then amonia went to .25 a few days later...no nitrite but nitrate read 5
a day later the amonia went to .50...Nitrite to .25
then amonia went to 1.0 and nitrite stayed the same
Then amonia dropped to .25 and nitrate went to .5
then amonia went up again to .5 and nitrite to 1.0 <-----
then amonia dropped to .25 and nitrite went to 1.0+ and Nitrate went to 10
Please say this is normal. We added live bacteria on the day we set it up

 

[Dr Joe]

What kind of filtration?

Did you put all 4 fish in when you first filled it? (curious, what kind of game fish and how/what are they eating)

Dr Joe

.

 

[rhinod56]

Well 1. New tank, 10 days, wouldn't worry about it. 2. if you added those fish all at once, especially on top of new tank that would explain it. Seachem de-nitrate as a additive, and use some prime or stabilitiy. but it will take time for the figures to drop down, as they will have to match the overload you just placed on the system..

 

[ewurm]

You shouldn't be cycling the tank with that many fish, you're risking their lives. Don't worry about nitrite level at this point, that means your tank is cycling properly. The bad news is that it isn't going to do your new fish any good.

 

[88GT]

My understanding is...the tank wont cycle without fish. We put all 5 in at once (emperror400) Is the nitrite a toxic level? Im well below full stock level as I understand it.
----> what is a toxic level of NITRATE for say a week to a month????????

 

[88GT]

You shouldn't be cycling the tank with that many fish, you're risking their lives. Don't worry about nitrite level at this point, that means your tank is cycling properly. The bad news is that it isn't going to do your new fish any good.

BTW the fish came out of a seasoned 30 gal. if that makes a difference. Plus they are wild fish. Guadalupe bass, if that make a difference also.
I just dont want to have to go through the same hassles. We did water changes daily on the 30g. sometimes 75% a day

 

[Wolf3101]

Short of fishless cycling your readings are about normal for 10 days in. Get some bio-spira to help out the process and keep ammoquil plus on hand in case the levels get out of hand. I don't think they will because of your ATE reading but better safe than sorry. continue daily or twice daily testing until it stabolizes.

 

[hmt321]

bio-spira will defiantly help if it have been stored properly, i have used this product myself and I would say it speeds the nitrogen cycle

I would be doing increasingly large water changes over the next few weeks. i may take as long as 2 months for the cycle to complete.

I would try to hunt down some filter media from an established tank.

nothing will speed a cycle like old filter pads, or some used bio media.

 

[Wolf3101]

I do so LOVE seasoned bio-wheels and established Hydro5 Foams...

 

[88GT]

I do so LOVE seasoned bio-wheels and established Hydro5 Foams...

I switched the bio wheels from the 30 gallon last night....same filter set up...the E400. The 30 is still zeros across the board