Nitrite Spike!

[DiN BLiX]

My 29 gal. is in the middle the nitrite phase of cycling. Ive been getting really high readings like 10 ppms, ive been doing 50% water changes when it gets that high. My question is; is it better to do the water changes to keep my cycle fish happy or just let it ride and let darwin have his way? I dont whant this to take any longer than it has too, already been a month.

[LittlePuff]

Do smaller water changes every few days. That can slow down your cycle. I usually keep my regular schedule with water changes, but I add Prime during the spikes.


Kim

[JSchmidt]

It is unquestionably better for your fish if you keep nitrites down. Nitrites interfere with fish taking up oxygen via their gills, so if you allow to nitrites to get high (10 ppm??!!) you are basically suffocating the fish.

I would not allow nitrites to exceed .5 ppm. You can do water changes to keep the concentration below that level. It will not lengthen the cycle; as long as there are nitrites in excess of what the bacteria can consume, they'll continue to multiply.

Good luck,
Jim

[Faramir]

That water changes slow down the cycle is one of the more pervasive myths in fishkeeping.