Nitrites Won't Go Down In New Tank!

My nitrites have been at 1ppm for the past 5 days or so in my new tank, I bought BB and did a fish-in-cycle, as my LFS said it was ok ...its been 2 and 1/2 weeks since start up and nitrites have shown about a week ago. The first 2 days nitrites at 0.25ppm and now at 1ppm, when I do a water change they go to 0.50ppm. I have prime and I dose daily. So should I keep on doing water changes or no? When will nitrites go down? Ammonia is at 0

 

What's the pH and temperature of the tank? The beneficial bacteria that process nitrites take a LOT longer to multiply than the ones that handle ammonia . I wouldn't do water changes if your pH is reasonable (above 6.8), but since you have fish you might have to since nitrites are very toxic. Acidic pH hinders bacteria growth. Some people , myself included, add baking soda to push the pH to 8.2 which is optimal, but you have fish so don't do that. You could also try raising your water temp to 82 degrees. However as you have fish you probably don't want to do that either . As you can see you would have a lot more options to turbo charge the process if you did a fish less cycle. Hang in there. It takes 6-8 weeks (or longer!) to cycle, so you seem to be on track to me.

 

Keep doing water changes when nitrites climb over 1ppm, and keep using Prime. It’s normal for nitrites to be high at this point. If ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Don’t play with PH and temp at this point.

 

My nitrites have been at 1ppm for the past 5 days or so in my new tank, I bought BB and did a fish-in-cycle, as my LFS said it was ok ...its been 2 and 1/2 weeks since start up and nitrites have shown about a week ago. The first 2 days nitrites at 0.25ppm and now at 1ppm, when I do a water change they go to 0.50ppm. I have prime and I dose daily. So should I keep on doing water changes or no? When will nitrites go down? Ammonia is at 0

when did you add the BB?

 

As said above, this is the longest part of the cycling process. My last one took 15 days for nitrites to drop. You’re doing things correctly.

 

Also what bacteria in a bottle did you use? If you are using Stability you need to keep dosing that everyday. If using Tetra SafeStart or most other ones, adding Prime to that would have starved the bacteria of its food source. Prime and Tetra Safe Start don't work well together (you have to age your water for at least 24 hours after adding Prime before adding to the tank).

 

Also what bacteria in a bottle did you use? If you are using Stability you need to keep dosing that everyday. If using Tetra SafeStart or most other ones, adding Prime to that would have starved the bacteria of its food source. Prime and Tetra Safe Start don't work well together (you have to age your water for at least 24 hours after adding Prime before adding to the tank).

You seem to have bacteria building up now so I wouldn’t worry about bottled bacteria anymore. That was good info for future though. You’re halfway there, hang in there.

 

My pH is 8.0

Added the BB from the start, which was Stability (for a week)

It didn't really work so I went to the LFS and bought refrigerated FritzZyme (apparently works super well)

Did that for a week and got nitrites (ran out)

Then started stability again

You seem to have bacteria building up now so I wouldn’t worry about bottled bacteria anymore. That was good info for future though. You’re halfway there, hang in there.

Okay thanks!! That's good news. I have 2 peppered cories in there...should I get more fish for more ammonia or am I good. And I don't have to add anymore Stability?

 

I saw a post from Tetras customer service saying that you can use Prime because it still allows the biofilter to work, unlike some ammonia removing/detox products.

I don’t use bacterial starters because none of them have ever worked for me.

 

I wouldn't add any new fish until you are cycled, unless you like the stress of worrying about fish disease etc. I personally would get some floating plants when you do get more fish to help soak up the extra ammonia and nitrites and help avoid minI cycles.

 

I saw a post from Tetras customer service saying that you can use Prime because it still allows the biofilter to work, unlike some ammonia removing/detox products.

I don’t use bacterial starters because none of them have ever worked for me.

yes you can use prime but not when you are you are using tetra safe start. Prime will kill the ammonia safe start comes with, there by starving it. Once you have a cycled tank it doesn't effect the biofilter

 

yes you can use prime but not when you are you are using tetra safe start. Prime will kill the ammonia safe start comes with, there by starving it. Once you have a cycled tank it doesn't effect the biofilter

It doesn’t kill ammonia. And it also doesn’t make a lick of sense that you wouldn’t be able to use it together. Nitrosomonas, Nitrosospira, and Nitrospira don't die when we use Prime in a cycled tank, so why would it affect it in any situation? They have a new ammonia source, your fish. It sounds like a ploy for more money by Tetra to sell you their conditioner.

This is getting off topic though lol, and I’m not trying to come off rude or trying to argue, just explaining what I think!

OP: you’re cycling like normal, just gotta be patient. Good luck!

 

As per Tetra, when using TSS you need to wait a minimum of 24 hours after using any water conditioner, Prime included, and then shouldn't use a water conditioner for at least 7 days after adding the TSS. From what I can surmise, it is because TSS is bacteria in a "stabilized ammonia" solution (whatever that is) and it would appear that the process water conditioners use to remove chloramines (by breaking the ammonia-chlorine bond) effects TSS in a way that can cause TSS to fail. But once cycled, it is fine to use any water conditioner, Prime included.

 

OP - How big is your tank and what is your gph filtration rate? 5 times tank size is good, 10x is better.

 

my tank is 10 gallon and I have aqueon quietflow 10

 

It doesn’t kill ammonia. And it also doesn’t make a lick of sense that you wouldn’t be able to use it together. Nitrosomonas, Nitrosospira, and Nitrospira don't die when we use Prime in a cycled tank, so why would it affect it in any situation? They have a new ammonia source, your fish. It sounds like a ploy for more money by Tetra to sell you their conditioner.

This is getting off topic though lol, and I’m not trying to come off rude or trying to argue, just explaining what I think!

OP: you’re cycling like normal, just gotta be patient. Good luck!

Well what you think isn't what Tetra says and I'm not trying to be rude either. I don't think it's a Tetra conspiracy. They are on record refuting what you "think".....and prime locks up the ammonia which starves the tss bacteria.

 

Sounds like you got good filtration....keep an eye on it and everything should cycle thru eventually. I have aqueon hobs and just one note....those disposable cartridges they want you to replace every month, don't until you at least have the tank established, there is a lot of BB in that you need right now. If you have to clean it use tank water, also look at adding more media to the hob tank it will improve efficiency.

 

I saw a post from Tetras customer service saying that you can use Prime because it still allows the biofilter to work, unlike some ammonia removing/detox products.

I don’t use bacterial starters because none of them have ever worked for me.

You are correct sir/ ma'dam

 

Sounds like you got good filtration....keep an eye on it and everything should cycle thru eventually. I have aqueon hobs and just one note....those disposable cartridges they want you to replace every month, don't until you at least have the tank established, there is a lot of BB in that you need right now. If you have to clean it use tank water, also look at adding more media to the hob tank it will improve efficiency.

Pine Tar do u have enough space in your HOB filter for extra media? Mine barely has any room, I doubt it can fit a mesh bag of extra filter media