cycle question

[rickwaines]

I have a new tank that I thought had cycled... wrong and so it got a little overstocked given this. Ammonia is under control but I have quite a nitrite spike 1 ppm going on, a few days now. I have been doing 30% water changes daily and adding some CYCLE and today some TOPFIN after these changes.

My question is this. I am tempted to continue with the daily changes but I wonder if I should just let things settle a bit and give the tank a bit of time to build enough bacteria.

I have lost one fish in the process, not extraordinary, but I would like to avoid a mass extinction.

Any suggestions?

[jobber604]

There can be different ways to deal with this. Since you have already placed fish into the tank, and want to speed up the bacteria growth to control the nitrite/nitrate/ammonia levels, you may consider putting in some Seachem Stability (which is bacteria in a bottle).

You may also consider placing a sponge filter into your tank to give more surface area for bacteria growth.

Each water change you do will take away some good bacteria in the water column. However, doing a 20% to 30% water change will help the nitrate/nitrite/ammonia levels.

hope you find your tank's balance.

[Immus21]

You could also add some media or substrate from a well established filter/aquarium.

[rickwaines]

thanks all
ammonia, nitrite and nitrate all ok, yahooo
now, I am tryin to figure why the red eye and blue ram seem a little stressed still.

ph is too high... 7.4 must be the substrate I guess.