20 Gallon Tank Fish in cycle and nitrite issues

[Fabio]

Hi guys, my English is not the best but I’ll do my best to explain my situation in an understandable way!
I started around 20 days ago a new 20 gallon tank (kit including filter and heater). I made the big mistake to don’t read enough before to proceed and to just listen some stupid advices from the shop’s owners in my city.
I added 48 hours later 3 guppies and 2 platys before to complete the cycle (trust me I tried my best to bring them back and proceed with a fishless cycle!).
After 5 days I started to check water parameters with API master test and I read 1ppm ammonia, .25 nitrite and, obviously, 0 nitrate. I used bacterias (nutrafin cycle) to start the cycle and seachem prime to detoxify ammonia (still using prime). I did a 15% water change as well after 1 week that lowered only the nitrite to 0ppm.
I checked from that time the water daily and I can read every time till now 1ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite and 0 nitrate. I have a feeling like if the cycle slowed down after that water change for reasons unknown to me. I talked again with another pet shop about my situation and they suggested me to use life bio fil Aqua forest to kick a bit more the bacterias (in the filter). Other $ going and 0 results. Again, 1ppm ammonia and 0 nitrite / nitrate.
This evening I just noticed some greenish algae on the glass of my tank and I’m surprised that the water parameters are still the same.
Meanwhile I’m reading more and more every day and I’m almost tempted to start all over again with a better knowledge. But I love my fishes now and I don’t want to lose them! They look pretty good overall but I’m noticing that they have weird swimming patterns (Frantic swimming, laying together on the top corner of the surface). I added an air stone as well to give little bit more oxygenation. I forgot to mention that I have 5 plants as well.
Ph 7.5
Gh 180
And you know the rest
Please, what can I do?!?

 

[Broggy]

if water parameters start getting harmful, then you are feeding too much. obviously, when your fish poops, it turns into ammonia and goes through the cycle. and when you feed your fish less, they poop less. ammonia and nitrite poisoning trumps hunger. feed once a week. natrally the tank will "cycle" without reaching harmful levels. once ammonia nitrite goes down feed every 6 days then every 5 days etc.

know that your fish could go months with out eating before literally dying of hunger.

also welcome to fishlore.

 

[Fabio]

Thank you for the quick reply!
Can ask you also your idea about the fact that I have some algae with 0 nitrite and 0 nitrate?

 

[Broggy]

Thank you for the quick reply!
Can ask you also your idea about the fact that I have some algae with 0 nitrite and 0 nitrate?

right, I forgot about that. despite the water parameters, the fact that algae has found its way into your aquarium, is the best thing you could hope for. its not like its anything special, but it means that you are starting to have a functioning ecosystem.

also, what water tests are you using?

 

[Fabio]

Api master test.
I was reading other posts over here about the fact that using seachem prime can alterate the ammonia reading on API test. I’m bit confused about it because I read about crazy spike of ammonia during the cycle but here the situation is pretty steady on 1ppm.
You gave me a little bit of hope by the way!

 

[Broggy]

Api master test.
I was reading other posts over here about the fact that using seachem prime can alterate the ammonia reading on API test. I’m bit confused about it because I read about crazy spike of ammonia during the cycle but here the situation is pretty steady on 1ppm.
You gave me a little bit of hope by the way!

yeah, prime will alter results no matter what test kit you use. but with the api kits, the key is to be quick about it. so if you mix the solutions and let it sit for 10 minutes, then your results will be wrong. so test it right after 5 minutes after shaking it. if you already do that, then im assuming those tests are corect.

good luck. feel free to ask more questions