Tank Cycling

[frockmarten]

Hi all! I have a question. We bought an 8.5 gal tank as a grow out tank for our fry of convict cichlids. Problem is, I can't get the nitrate and nitrite levels to go down. They are pretty high, and after 4 or 5 twenty percent water changes, using both tap water (with conditioner added, of course) and water from an established tank, the levels are still high. I am done talking to the folks at PetSmart about it, because I have gotten 3 different stories from them now, and none of their suggestions work! Any ideas?

 

[fish wrangler]

How are you testing your levels?

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[frockmarten]

How are you testing your levels?

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I have the liquid system. Not the test strips.

 

[fish wrangler]

Ok thats good. Do you have any fish in the tank? If you don't just give the bacteria time to process the nitrites.

If you do have fish in the tank large water changes (50%+) should be done to lower the nitrites.

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[frockmarten]

I did have fish in there, but everything except the pleco died. He's holding on strong. Should I still just give it time to balance out?

 

[fish wrangler]

I'd move the pleco to a cycled tank if you can, and then let things balance out.

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[frockmarten]

Thanks!


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[fish wrangler]

No problem. You do know that the bacteria will only lower the nitrites and you will have to remove the nitrates with water changes.

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