Nitrites are up....need some advice please

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Arowanana

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 15, 2008
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I am in the process of cycling my new tank and I have a question I'm hoping someone with more experience than myself might be able to answer. I had an ammonia spike, as to be expected, and now that my ammonia levels are back down my nitrite levels are way up. Can I now do water changes to lower my nitrite levels or will that screw up the cycle of my tank??

Thanks
 
I already have nitrates...here are the levels:

NITRITE: 0.75 ppm
NITRATE: 20 ppm
AMMONIA: 0.25 ppm

The tank has been running for a week, is it safe to do water changes to get my nitrite down or is it still too early?
 
do you have fish in there? unless your overstocked you shouldnt have nitrites with 20 ppm nitrates also if the tank has only been running one week your cycle isnt done unless you have precycled filters
 
I do have a couple fish in there. That's why I'm so concerned about getting the nitrites down. I know I jumped the gun and I feel really stupid about it, but really I'm just trying to figure out how I can make sure my fish will be ok. Is it safe to do water changes now or will it re-start the cycle and cause more ammonia and nitrite spikes that will harm my fish?
 
do a water change add prime or something like it and add some salt keep doing this until cycle catches up
 
your suposed to get a nitrite spike jsut let it wear itself out eventualy itl all be nitrate
 
Arowanana;3180688; said:
I do have a couple fish in there. That's why I'm so concerned about getting the nitrites down. I know I jumped the gun and I feel really stupid about it, but really I'm just trying to figure out how I can make sure my fish will be ok. Is it safe to do water changes now or will it re-start the cycle and cause more ammonia and nitrite spikes that will harm my fish?
Click to expand...

water changes will slow down your "cycle" but with fish in there you should do it to save them, because there should b 0 ammonia and nitrite. not really sure why you put fish in there, but to try n keep them alive water changes are a must. it won't restart a cycle it'll just slow the process down.
 
prime will neutralize the nitrites. i'm only suggesting this as a band aid. time will ultimately solve the issue
 
thanks for your suggestions. I think I am going to do 35% water changes and double dose with prime every night until the tank is done cycling. I will probably drop by the lfs and pick up some salt too.
 
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