Water emergency!

[Magicfan1423]

Hi all,

I've had my 55G tank up for a month now (started the cycle with some ghost shrimp and a couple of hardy danios), had my ammonia spike, nitrite spike, and have had 10ppm Nitrates for 2 weeks now. I added fish (in moderation) last week after the ammonia and nitrites reduced to near-nothing and the nitrates were stable and low. The water was fine all week, I tested it every day and then today I get these scary readings:
Ammonia between 2-4, and Nitrites at 5!
I have Prime, and was going to use it to detoxify the Nitrites and Ammonia, plus I was going to do a 50% water change, but I also wanted to know what you all might suggest if you've experienced a sudden spike like this.

Luckily the fish all seem to be fine at the moment, but I am worried about them.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Andrew McFadden]

Did you re test? That would have been my first thing

 

[Convict2161]

As suggested re test but I'd do a 50% water change anyway. BUT test the water in the tank before doing the water change.

Those are major jumps. I can't see that being accurate. I've had many false readings with API.

 

[Magicfan1423]

Yeah, I re-tested and did a 50% water change. Same results as first test. Also added 3 caps of prime after water change. Fish still seem fine, will have to re-test in the morning I guess.

 

[Andrew McFadden]

Yeah, I re-tested and did a 50% water change. Same results as first test. Also added 3 caps of prime after water change. Fish still seem fine, will have to re-test in the morning I guess.

Yep water changes and more water changes is what your going to need. May need to bump it up to 75% if its not coming down. Or you have a filter problem, somethings dead, over feeding orsomething else along those lines.