question

[TSBacon]

i started my 20g tank 9/2, and between then and now have added: 5 z.danios, 1 betta, 2 platies, and an otocinclus. the water was fine for about three weeks then suddenly nitrites are huge. water is cloudy right now. a guy i know told me to do 25% water changes every thirty days, knowing i was just starting. he gave me stress zyme, said it was the only chemical he recommends using. (i did do research myself, but found that pretty much every book says something different about how often to do changes.) i did a water change last week and there wasn't any change in water quality or appearance (still high nitrites, still cloudy).

so my question is - should i do changes more often, like right now? maybe more than 25%?

i realize there'll probably be several responses to this saying different things... i guess i'll listen to whatever is the most common response.

any advice would be appreciated. you people who know what you're talking about are good for helping newbies out.

[phanmc]

Your tank is in the final stages of the nitrogen cycle, eventually the nitrites will disappear as it is converted into nitrates. Until that happens, do 50% water changes daily to drop the nitrites down below .5. Extended exposure to nitrites at a level higher than .5 is toxic to your fishes.

[reignman40]

After the cycle is completed and the tank levels out you can switch to changing 25% or so water once a week. Honestly unless you plan on keeping the tank understocked I wouldn't do water changes less frequent then once a week.

[tmpadmin]

My Nitrites are high each day so I do a 20 - 50% water change each day. My suggestion is to ready what phanmc and reignman40 wrote and do as they say!!! :)

Won't be long now for you, then you can back off on the daily water changes. You might want to pick up a test kit for yourself (if you don't have one already), daily trips to your pet store can get tiresome. They are only $25 and can save your fish's lives.

[NowherMan6]

Agree with the advice above. Buying a test kit while cycling is essential. High levels of nitrite are toxic to fish, just as much so as ammonia. ~50% water changes every day and test to make sure they're low. Keep in mind, they need not be completely gone, but get them to an acceptable range. Once nitrates start to show up you'll know you're done, but for now don't worry about the tank's appearance, just take care of that water.

[Holly9937]

Also, the cloudiness might go away on its own once the tank is finished cycling, I wouldn't worry too much about that right now.... Just get out the bucket for those water changes :joke: