The bacteria live in the filter media and substrate and any other surface. Changing water won't hurt the bateria. If there is excess levels of ammonia or nitrite then that means the bacteria haven't caught up to it yet and won't catch up for awhile. Do the water changes and get that nitrite level as low as you can, any registering means that there is far more than the bacteria can handle.
Both ammonia and nitrite are very dangerous to fish and will likely shorten their lives and probably their size (not really a good thing). They tend to burn the gills of fish and make it hard for them to breath and the damage is pretty much irreversible.
One temp measure for you is to add 1 tsp of salt per gallon or water. Table salt will do. It help to protect the fish gills from the toxic affects of nitrite. And salt at that level isn't super dangerous to your fish over a short period of time ( a few weeks or so). Add the salt already dissolved in fresh change water. Start with just a few tsp of salt during the first water change. Then gradually work your way up.
Good luck.
Both ammonia and nitrite are very dangerous to fish and will likely shorten their lives and probably their size (not really a good thing). They tend to burn the gills of fish and make it hard for them to breath and the damage is pretty much irreversible.
One temp measure for you is to add 1 tsp of salt per gallon or water. Table salt will do. It help to protect the fish gills from the toxic affects of nitrite. And salt at that level isn't super dangerous to your fish over a short period of time ( a few weeks or so). Add the salt already dissolved in fresh change water. Start with just a few tsp of salt during the first water change. Then gradually work your way up.
Good luck.
