Water changes/ substrate cleaning

[Rubberbandboy]

Hello, I’m still fairly new to aquarium keeping and I just upgraded to a 20 gallon with a good amount of guppies and 2 bristle nose plecos. I just did a water change along with sucking the gunk from the gravel but there still seems to be a noticeable amount of stuff floating around the tank. Also when I took a water test after the water change my nitrate and nitrite levels were high. First, does anyone have tips on cleaning substrate (gravel) and second should I be concerned about the high levels of nitrate and nitrite or since I just stirred up the water the test will be a off. Thank you.

 

[fishwonder]

Is your tank still cycling? When was it started? You would only have nitrites in a cycling tank. And what are those numbers?

 

[Rubberbandboy]

Is your tank still cycling? When was it started? You would only have nitrites in a cycling tank. And what are those numbers?

Prior to putting in the fish which have been in there for a week the tank had been cycling for about a month with plants and a few danios from another tank. The numbers are about 30 nitrate and 5 nitrite.

 

[fishwonder]

Prior to putting in the fish which have been in there for a week the tank had been cycling for about a month with plants and a few danios from another tank. The numbers are about 30 nitrate and 5 nitrite.

OK, it takes 3-8 weeks to complete a fishless cycling before any fish should be added. Your tank is in the middle of it's cycle. Information is here for Aquarium Cycling.

I would suggest that you need to perform a Fish-In-Cycling for your fish now.

 

[Rubberbandboy]

OK, it takes 3-8 weeks to complete a fishless cycling before any fish should be added. Your tank is in the middle of it's cycle. Information is here for Aquarium Cycling.

I would suggest that you need to perform a Fish-In-Cycling for your fish now.

Thank you very much !