10gal Parameters, NitrIte to high....add non iodided salt?

[IowaFish]

For my 10 [acronym:6b2e78b91b="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:6b2e78b91b]. tank I have two glowlight tetras, 3 young catfish, and 1 plecostomus...

I just did my first tests on my tank and the Nitrate was <20.... Nitrite, was extremely high my test couldn't even measure it, so I did a quick 25% water change, then I also read that if you add a 1 tsp of non iodided salt that well help lower that too, so I did that...Was that a correct thing to do?

My alkalinity was right at 120

My pH was at 7.6

When should I measure again?

I used the Jungle Test strips...anyone have any more suggestions on what to do...[acronym:6b2e78b91b="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:6b2e78b91b]!!!

[nomadofthehills]

salt will help reduce nitrIte posioning.

yor tank is still cycling, do a 25-50% water change dailiy untill you have no ammonia or nitrItes. try to keep nitrAtes under 40, preferably under 20 once your tank is established.

[IowaFish]

thank you very much ...

also when I do my partial water change, it is ok if use city/tap water if i let it sit out for a couple days?

[Zagz]

You can use tap water immediately if it is the same temp as long as you add a declorinator such as Prime.

[IowaFish]

whoops..dont know what happend with this post

If you can, save up your money to get a liquid test kit like this:
http://www.petsolutions.com/Liquid+M...101034-I-.aspx

It will allow you to test your water parameters and get a better idea of where you are in your cycle. For the time being, Daily water changes will help you keep the levels from killing any fish.. hopefully. As was said you can use a tapwater conditioner/dechlorinater like Prime:
http://www.petsolutions.com/Prime-I-10104360-I-.aspx


Prime is the best but any dechlorinator that removes chlorine and chloranamines will work just fine. You add it directly to the water you add or directly to the tank and it works instantly.

[IowaFish]

New Parameters for my Tap water and Tank

Tap Water:
Nitrate-20
Nitrite-0
Hardness-75
Alkalinity-40
pH-6.8


Tank-
Nitrate-20
Nitrite-3
Hardness-75
Alkalinty-80
pH-7.2


I do have a few fish in my tank, and I didn two fairly large [acronym:718bc2bfcc="Partial water change"]PWC[/acronym:718bc2bfcc]'s yesterday to lower the nitrites and one large one today also...

Anyone know what else I should do

I also have one live plant, and plan on getting another tomorrow (anachris (sp))

My fish also seem to back sudden bursts to the surface of the water and come back down is this a problem?

[IowaFish]

The tank was after my water change today....I don't know if I should be doing such large [acronym:842790f5de="Partial water change"]PWC[/acronym:842790f5de] because that ruins the bacteria and stuff, that I need to get m tank completely cycled right?

[Zagz]

Water changes are necessary when cycling with fish. You may haveto do them every day. Just don't deep gravel vac.

the bacteria grow on the gravel... filter media.. etc. Not in the water.