Fishy Cycling question

[nynikki]

I'm at the end of week three of a Fishy cycle and I just want to be sure that I'm on the right track. I have been checking the water every day, sometimes twice just to closely monitor what's going on. I have been doing 50% WCs daily to keep things in line. I started noticing Nitrites in the tank, and within a day or two Ammonia dropped to zero. Nitrites were hitting .25ppm every 24 hours, Ammonia 0, and Nitrates <5 ppm. (The Nitrates test results are not quite the peach color, but it's not yellow anymore either). This had been going on every 24 hours for about 6 days. Today, it has been 36 hours since the last WC, Ammonia is still 0, Nitrites <.25, and I'm still at the same place with the Nitrates.

Is this a normal reaction? I expected to have to do a water change tonight and I'm wondering if I should try to wait it out... any opinions? I know any nitrites are bad for the fish, but it just seems so little at the moment.

Other things that might be helpful to know about my tank. It is heavily planted and I have a Hagen Co2 injector in the tank.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[Cory Keeper]

sounds like your right at the tail end, now just don't do what I did (re-start cycle) and you should be fine. .25 PPM is just below the threshold for trItes.

[nynikki]

now just don't do what I did (re-start cycle) and you should be fine.

How did you do that? That's what I'm trying to avoid :)

BTW... it has now been 48 hours since my last WC and I'm still at the same levels (Ammonia 0, Nitrites < .25, Nitrates < 5).

I'm trying to be so patient, I so want to buy more fish, but I am determined to wait until things settle before I do that. :rolleyes:

[silentskream]

just dont change the gravel or the filter media. you're on the right track, it shouldn't be too much longer!

[Madness]

I'd keep up the 50% daily changes as long as you're still reading nitrites. Keep it vacuumed well so that the bioload remains as small as possible. Having those nitrites remian low is of course ideal. And they should become immeasurable soon.