Newer tank

Noob here but we have had our 29gal tank for like a month or so and have struggles over the last 1-2 wks at keeping our nitrite levels at acceptable levels for our fish. I have no ideas where is the cycle we are, if we've gone through a cycle already or if we are amidst one now. From putting water and fish in our levels were fine with everything. But then the nitrite levels started rising to "stress" level. As a result we did 10% water changes daily. Didn't work. Now the nitrite is danger > 5ppm and we have been doing 30% water changes daily with adding prime to the water.

Today I go to do my daily test and 30% water change and I notice one of my fish has a large popeye. Is that Nitrite toxicity?? A few of the others look like they might be developing a slight pop eye too.

What do I do?? How do I establish a cycle if the nitrite levels aren't safe for my fish? Also how do I treat popeye in this case? All other water levels are fine except the pH which is 8.4. By the way I have a guppies, mollies, tetras, and platys. Thanks.

 

Have you tested your tap water?

 

Greetings and welcome and welcome

What did you do to cycle your tank? Prime will not cycle a tank, you need beneficial bacteria. A fishless cycle is best and can be done in two weeks or less. A fish in cycle can take many weeks and is very hard on the fish.

A cycled tank will show 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and varying nitrate readings. The fact that you are showing any nitrite at all shows that your tank is not cycled.

There is are no acceptable levels of ammonia or nitrite. Ammonia burns the gills of the fish. Nitrate is only slightly less poisonous than ammonia. How are you testing your water? PH 8.4? The guppies may survive a PH that high but I do not believe the mollies and platies will as they come from water systems in central and south America that is soft low PH water. None of the fish you have listed are suitable for a fish in cycle. Although the guppies have a better than average chance.

 

Assuming your tap is 0 you are in the middle of cycling. I would do two back to back 75% water changes (making sure to match temperature and ph) to get those nitrites down. It's normal for nitrites to spike during cycling. As long as the nitrites are going up you'll need to do large water changes daily. What is your ammonia at? You'll have to see if their eyes look better after that. High nitrites deplete the blood of oxygen if I remember right and is called brown blood syndrome.

 

Ok. As far as what we have been putting in the water to get it to cycle we put in the quick start, stress zyme, stress coat, tap water conditioner. We have done this as instructed since the beginning.


Just today we added aquarium salt, prime and have installed nitra zorb. We also did a 50% water change


As far as testing the water we have been using the test strips up until today. We borrowed our friends testing kit to check the levels.

 

Disregard my comment on the 8.4 PH. My mind must be wondering the stars.

 

Ok. As far as what we have been putting in the water to get it to cycle we put in the quick start, stress zyme, stress coat, tap water conditioner. We have done this as instructed since the beginning.


Just today we added aquarium salt, prime and have installed nitra zorb. We also did a 50% water change


As far as testing the water we have been using the test strips up until today. We borrowed our friends testing kit to check the levels.

The 50% water change will still leave you at 2.5 nitrites which is extremely toxic. You need to get those down to 0 asap or you will probably start losing fish

Can you tell us all your levels since the 50% water change? The salt will make nitrites less toxic but it will make ammonia more toxic. You really don't need the stress zyme or the stress coat, just use Prime and double dose it daily right now.

I cycled with fish in and ended up doing 75% daily water changes through this phase. Usually nitrites come on fast and high but it is a much shorter phase.