Need Help With My 10 Gallon Tank

[B Letz]

Hello,

My tank has been set up since 2/24/04. Started with Nitrite of 0.00 and Ammonia of 0.00. On 3/02/04 the Ammonia went up to 0.50 and went to 0.00 on 3/11/04 and has stayed at 0.00 since. My Nitrite went up 0.25 on 3/10/04 and climbed to 0.50 on 3/16/04 and has stayed there since. Is my cycle working. I keeping hearing that Ammonia should reach 1.00 and never did. Is everything going good with my tank. I started off with a TopFin 10 filter and put a Penguin Mini with Bio-Wheel last Sunday. Right now I have 3 guppies (2 Female and 1 Male) and 1 African Dwarf Frog. They all look fine: swimming and eating. What do I need to do now for my tank to finish its cycel. Below are my readings.

=== My Quick Help Info ===================

Tank Stats
-------------------
Size of Tank (Gallons / Litres): 10 gallon Hex
Running for how long: 2/24/04

Water Params
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Temp: 78
pH: 7.0
Ammonia (ppm): 0.00
NitrIte (ppm): 0.50
NitrAte (ppm): 5.0
Water-change Schedule: Twice a week to get Nitrite down
Water-change Amount: 20% -- Do I need to do more.
Any Water Additives: Stress Coat and Stress Zyme. Do I need to add anything else to help my tank?

What fish are in the tank, length, age, etc.
-------------------
3 guppies (2 Female and 1 Male) - Had since 2/27/04
1 African Dwarf Frog - Had since 2/27/04


What do I need to do to finish the cycle?

Thanks,

Bruce

 

[astroguy]

Have you tested your tap water? Does it contain nitrite? Also, do you see nitrate increasing (if you do not change the water)? Btw, changing your power filter essentially destroyed the cycle, since the top fin 10 has, I think no bio-wheel. All other maintenance points are very good.

 

[Menagerie]

[center:81e6bda0ac] Welcome to AA, B Letz!! [/center:81e6bda0ac]
Check the tap water and continuing monitoring the tank water. Switching the filters may prolong the cycle; keep an eye on your fish. If things start to go haywire, you will need to increase the water changes.