Lost power Nitrite Emergency!!!!

[Jobin13]

Hey all.
I travel for work and the lady friend was watching my tank.
A transformer blew up on our street and we lost power for a day... She did her best to keep water flow through the filter and ran a battery air stone to keep the tank aerated. However the 40 g isn't going so well. It's about 50% stocked and I seem to have lost my nitrite to nitrate bacteria but my ammonia to nitrite bacteria is doing somewhat okay.

I came home last night and did an immediate 50% water change (as much as I could do at the time). I did one again this morning however I lost 1 rummy nose tetra since then and fear I might lose more fish since that water change.

my water parameters are as follows:
ph 7
ammonia: .25
nitrite: off the chart probably about 8
nitrate:10

It is a newly planted tank so I'm getting a bunch of excess nutrients from that.

I've dosed with Prime to reduce Nitrite toxicity

What else should I be doing?

 

[Jobin13]

I know we're in recycling stages but Nitrites have never been this high for me, so I'm concerned. Should I just leave nitrites (treated with prime) this high to let the bacteria go or is this too high for them to establish?


I'm going to try a 90% water change as well

 

[nirbhao]

Don't just leave it.

One way to measure when any parts per million test is off the charts is to either double your water sample or cut the reagent in half.

I had huge nitrite issues for so long in my tanks. It's really awful. Keep up with the water changes and keep up with the Prime.

 

[Meesh]

Dr Tims is great to help get a tank in balance

 

[brendenscott]

Don't bother doubling testing solution if it's off the charts whether it's 80 or 140ppm it's deadly. Don't even waste the testing regent.

 

[Jobin13]

I did a 90% change and the parameters were great following this.
ph:7.4
ammonia:maybe the slightest tinge darker but not.25
nitrite: .25
nitrate: 5


I added some baking soda to ensure the tank had some buffer as well. about to do the 12 hour test


ph:7
Ammonia:0
Nitrite: .25
nitrate: in between 0-5