cycling, nitrite spike

dethnode

So I got a 20 gallon long, filled it with 10 fish two days later. Unfortunately petco didn't tell me anything about the nitrogen cycle, so I lost 4 fish.

As of now, I have had the tank for 4 weeks, and just yesterday and today have noticed that ammonia has dropped and is reading somewhere between 0 and 0.25ppm. Nitrite has spiked and is off the charts, chart goes up to only 5 ppm and it is at least that dark.

Nitrate on the other hand is starting to show somewhat, somewhere between 5 to 10 ppm.

Should I continue to do water changes daily at 25% of the tank and keep using prime? And, should I continue to feed very sparingly?

AbbeysDad

Double check your test results - if nitrites were really off the charts, all your remaining fish would be dead!!!
Do a 50% water changes and get those nitrites lower...then do water changes as necessary to keep them low.

Ammonia and nitrites asre not only toxic to fish...but also toxic to the beneficial bacteria we're trying to culture. Once the colonies are established, they keep the levels in check...but until then, we need water changes to keep them low.

Good luck and keep us posted.

dethnode

Tested yesterday and nitrites were off charts, did a 25% change. Woke up and tested again today,still off charts, then I posted this thread and did another 25% change, using prime to detoxify with each water change...

AbbeysDad

Ah...Prime to the rescue (just remember that Prime's detoxification only lasts 24-48 hours) - don't be afraid to do a 50% water change anytime it's warranted.

dethnode

50% at one time, or two 25% back to back?

Byron

50% each water change, using Prime. Can be daily.