How Long Will Nitrite Hang Around??

Boohoo

Boohoo

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Feb 22, 2005
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I know this question has been asked time and time again. I only found this site unfortunatly after I already had two ten gallon tanks underway with fishy cycling. LFS didn't mention a word that you can fishless cycle. One of my tanks (the goldfish tank) has been up and running for 5 weeks today. 10 days ago I noticed nitrites. My other tank (tropicals) has been running for 3 weeks today. I have had nitrites in that one for 5 days now. I am doing partial changes on both sometimes once a day and sometimes twice a day depending on the readings. I know there is probably no magic answer but how long before there are none?? Both have readings for nitrate as well but no ammonia.
 
It takes about twice as long for the bacteria that feed on nitrites to get up and running as it does for the bacteria that feeds on ammonia. You are looking at about two weeks (three is not out of the question) from the time you start seeing nitrites till they disappear.
 
Be sure you're doing enough water changes to keep the nitrites and ammonia under 1ppm at the very least, preferably under .50ppm.

Ask your LFS if you can have a handful of their gravel and/or some squeezings from their filters. Then just put this in your tank, it will help jump start your bacteria and speed things up a bit. If you don't want their gravel mixed into yours (different color or whatever), you can put it in a nylon or mesh bag (pantyhose work great) and drop it in there so it can be easily removed later.

Good luck to ya and welcome to AC! :)
 
If you ever have to cycle a goldfish tank again, definately go for the fishless cycle. They are one of the dirtiest fish there are which doesn't help cycling. They can be keep for a long time in cold water after the tank is cycled though. You probably don't need a heater in your goldfish tank, or if you have one it should be turned way down. They really need cold water in the low 70's. Warmer water often leads to disease.

if you haven't already, I would try some of the live bacteria in your tanks. They really seemed to help me a lot but some people don't notice much difference.

I might be wrong, but two times a day seems like a lot to be doing water changes even during cycling. When I cycled my tanks, I changed the water weekly at most. Maybe it works better every day, but it would seem like thats too often to me.

What fish are you cycling with? Zebra danios are the ultimate cyclers. They are a very cheap fish and can take the spikes in the water. Hopefully your not using any expensive fish to cycle with? Some of the fancy goldfish can cost a lot.
 
I hate to tell you this but I listened to my LFS. I put 2 comets in for the first 2 weeks of cycling and then I added 1 calico fantail, 1 black moor and 1 oranda. Big boo-boo. I know I'm way overstocked now that I have found this site. All fish are under 1.5 inches in length. Once I get through this fishy cycle I am looking for a much bigger home for my friends if they survive.
 
Bringing home gravel and/or filter material from your lfs is a great way to get a jump start on cycling. It is also a great way to bring home diseases, parasites, snails etc.
 
Boohoo,
I went through the same problem. I have 9 Comets in a 75 gal. tank. I am way overstocked but I wasn't told anything from the pet store. I didn't figure it out until I came here. I started with bringing 6 home in a little jelly jar and now I have 9 (I found out the hard way that I have a mating team) in a 75 gal. The mom won't let me take any of her family away from her. Once she feels that her surviving babies are big enough to be with her she starts getting moody and wants them back. If I hold back and keep them in their own tank she causes trouble and gets depressed until I give them to her. She won't let me take them away. I have a very strange group of fish. Overstocked but happy. I wish I knew in advance so I wouldn't have torn down the swimming pool.

Goldies are dirty but very loving. If you are going to get rid of them do it before you get too attached.
 
Thanks Beeker, for the positive side of things cause right now I feel terrible about being overstocked and not in the position to do anything about it. All I can promise is that I will do the best to keep them in as clean an environment as I can. Sorry I was misinformed about how much space they actually need, but my LFS won't take fish back and even if they would I am rather attached in such a short time. I will look into bigger housing agangements ASAP!!!
Thanks, Again :)
 
That is all you can do at this point. They are pretty hearty fish. Mine like to swim through holes and play in air bubbles.

You may want to think of using live plants to help balance the chemicals (nitrites, nitrates, ammonia, etc.) The tough part about that is trying to find plants that they won't eat. I'm working on it now.
 
So which are first nitrites or nitrates? My tank is three weeks old, my ammonia has stayed around .25 to .50ppm, my nitrates are between 20 and 40ppm, my nitrites last week got a little color, but not enough to consider .05ppm other than that its been at 0. Where is my cycle at, two-thirds or one-third through?
 
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