ammonia level question

[adam_keene]

I've had my tank running with a fish in it for about a week and my ammonia and nitrite levels were both very high... I just tested my ammonia level and it was at .25 and my nitrite level was still very high(5 ppm) whats going on?

 

[mjvincent]

Ammonia and nitrites will both spike, it is a normal for this to occur during a cycle of the tank. I would suggest reading the faq's of the site... It should help you. I sure hope those fish are damsels, otherwise they will probably die. Here is the faq link... http://www.aquariumadvice.com/showfaq.php?fldAuto=2

 

[lando]

Your tank is going through a natural cycle. Sounds like you may be in the middle of your cycle. You can expect ammonia to go down, nitrite to spike and go down and nitrates to show up. Once ammonia, nitrite are at zero and you have some detectable nitrates do a arge (30%) water change.

 

[adam_keene]

thank you lando. just wanted to make sure this was right... i will keep a close eye on my levels

 

[Phyl]

If your ammo gets too high keep it down with water changes for the sake of the fishies. You don't want to expose them to ammo any more than you have to in order to get your tank cycled. It is lethal to them at high levels.

 

[AR15 guy]

What kind of fish are they?

 

[adam_keene]

one bluefin damsel