What is happening to my cycle?!?

History- two failed attempts of using tss. Long story, check my past posts for more info if needed.

I have a 20 long planted tank. After two failed attempts as mentioned above, I got 6 tiger barbs, and began doing daily water changes. Almost immediately, I finished the first part of my cycle and got nitrites. Since then, even after doing water changes DAILY of 50-70%, nitrites are still 1-2. No change in the slightest. My nitrates are normal and so is ammonia, but nitrites are insane. WHY WONT THEY LOWER. Someone told me to leave it alone, do a WC once a week, and let it cycle. Is that what I should do? I'm getting really tired of lugging these buckets around and not even seeing change.

 

Have you checked your source water for nitrites?

 

Have you checked your source water for nitrites?

0.25...

 

I would keep doing water changes daily to keep the nitrites + ammonia to around 1ppm and dosing Prime, even on days that you don't need to do a water change. You want there to be nitrites to finish your cycle so I would just rely on the Prime to keep the fish safe up to 1ppm. Double dose if you want to be safe.

What's the temperature in the tank?

 

I would keep doing water changes daily to keep the nitrites + ammonia to around 1ppm and dosing Prime, even on days that you don't need to do a water change. You want there to be nitrites to finish your cycle so I would just rely on the Prime to keep the fish safe up to 1ppm. Double dose if you want to be safe.

What's the temperature in the tank?

76. I did skip yesterday's, because I was waiting on an answer and a couple of other reasons. I feel bad, but I'm gonna do a small experiment. I'm going to not do water changes for two more days. Don't get me wrong, I'm still gonna test, but I want to see how the nitrites go.

 

Alright, but keep dosing Prime for the sake of your fish! Also, perhaps raising the temperature a couple of degrees will help your BB to grow faster

 

Alright, but keep dosing Prime for the sake of your fish! Also, perhaps raising the temperature a couple of degrees will help your BB to grow faster

Sounds good!

 

Alright, but keep dosing Prime for the sake of your fish! Also, perhaps raising the temperature a couple of degrees will help your BB to grow faster

Something magical has happened. This is the second day of no water changes, and tests showed 0.5ppm of nitrites. IM SO CLOSE.