I'm a quitter.

[jrmjrm]

So, after sitting in the nitrite phase of a fishless cycle for about 6 weeks, I did a huge water change and got fish. I couldn't take it anymore. They seem to be doing well so far. I'll just have to monitor the nitrite levels and hope that the tank eventually cycles.

What is a safe number for nitrites? I did a PWC today because it was around .5ppm. I got it down to about .25ppm after the PWC. Is that a good range? I don't want to hurt the little fishies.

 

[HN1]

< .25. What size tank, what filtration, and what fish did you get?

 

[Lowryder]

What is your ammonia? You want to keep ammonia levels at no more that 0.25ppm.

Here is a good link.
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forum...ady-have-fish-what-now-116287.html#post983258

 

[JohnPaul]

If you could keep them down near 0.25 ppm that would be ideal.

 

[mgamer20o0]

if you have .5 ppm nitrites 50% wc going to leave you at .25. i would do a large wc each time. prob around 75%. you might also have to do wcs 2 times a day for now also. like the other said keep the ammonia and nitrite under .25ppm. if you do a wc and you are still at .25ppm you are not leaving your self room to let any more build up at reasonable safe levels.

 

[mattrox]

It would be helful to know your tank size and the numbers and types of fish you have. If you have a low bioload it is easier to keep your nitrite levels low.

 

[jrmjrm]

I've got a 29 gal. that is half cycled. Before I added the fish it was processing 4ppm ammonia in about 15 hours, so ammonia is no problem. It has been at 0ppm since I added the fish. The nitrite level is hovering around 0.5ppm right now, I'm going to go a PWC in a little while to lower it again. Since I've had the fish in there I've not let it go much above 0.5ppm. Currently residing in the tank I have 6 giant danios and 4 cory cats.

 

[jrmjrm]

Update: It would appear that in less than a week my tank has finished its cycle. I added the fish last Weds. and last night and this morning the readings for ammonia and nitrites were at 0ppm with nitrates around 10ppm.