Water parameters have changed

KSASTER2

Ok its been a week the tanks been up and running planted and fish in it.

My water tests all week have maintained steady

PH 7.4

Ammonia .5 (tap water is .5 and i condition with prime)

Nitrite 0

nitrate 0

HOWEVER today i checked and everything is the same EXCEPT NITRITE

it has gone up to.... .25

have not done a water change yet

fish seem to be active

stock is 9 neons 3 guppies water temp 78

Angel079

Having had everything 0-0 despite plants you often still have a mini cycle and that's good and that's what you're seeing right now, so that's very good, just keep a close eye on it and do w/c as needed till its over.

KSASTER2

should i do a water change now or wait for it to go higher? also shoud i vacumm the gravel or just syphon water

Angel079

Was it my tank I'd pers do a small one and you really only need to syphon water out a bit; was it my tank I'd try keep it under 0.25 until the cycling is over. Some will suggest 0.5 but that can already be too late for some fish then.

KSASTER2

ok did a 20% pwc yesterday and checked this morning and im still showing...NITRITE.... (.25)

is this ok?

more pwc's?

LisaC144

I just got over a mini-cycle myself. I did a 20%-30% pwc every day until the nitrite read 0 (which was yesterday). Do not syphon the gravel. That's where some BB is starting to form. Just syphon out some water and add fresh water to "water down" the nitrite. Don't worry, it won't last too long. Mine was 5 days.

Angel079

Just really to avoid stress (and possible losses related to stress since I don't know by heart exactly what fish you have in that very tank) I'd also do a ~30% w/c each day while the nitrite is at .25 until it drop's and/ or reads 0; just really for safe sake of the fish there. Shouldn't take long for this to drop to 0 period with the plants in the set up.

KSASTER2

fish currently stocked 10 neons 2 guppies and just this morning 5 guppy babies...

Angel079

How are you readings today?

KSASTER2

still .25 and the guppy gave birth