Done it all wrong

[BIGMAC]

Hi everyone,well where should i start?
I got a 20 gall (uk) tank,followed instructions from shop,set it up ran it for a week with water heater and filter added the stress zyme and stress coat given with the tank.Tested water after a week and everything was at 0,and ph of 7.They said i could put 5 little neon tetra in and 2 albino cory.I have run tests each day on the water and now after a week the test results are ammonia 0,Nitrite 5.0,nitrate 5.0 ,ph still 7. I take it from this my tank hadnt cycled before,is that what its doing now or is it all going teribly wrong? I have been doinga 15% water change every day and removing the chlorine from the new water and making sure it was the correct temp before putting it in.The fish seem fine and are swimming away happily,i am feeding sparingly (soz bout the spelling).Even after the water change the levels dont seem to alter.I spoke to the lps where i got the fish and they said leave it and it will come right on its own,but i aint so sure. Please can you give me some advice i am trying hard to get it right but dont know what i should do.These levels have stayed the same for 3 days now.
Thanks peeps
Sue

 

[DrOizo]

It sounds as though you are doing everything right at the moment. The nitrite level will come down over time but your fish might get quiet stressed. The neons should be able to take it and cories are quite hardy aswell. Try and get some gravel for an established tank (As long as its a clean no illness tank) this always help to speed up the process. Just hang in there your about half way through the cycle (Or just passed half way)

 

[BIGMAC]

Sorry should of said i added a large rock from an established tank ,would that do the same thing as the gravel?
Thanx 4 ya help.
sue

 

[DrOizo]

There will be algae on it but I don't think much if any bacteria will be on it

 

[BIGMAC]

Good news my nitrites and nitrates are dropping today. Can you tell me when they are at 0 do i need to do a bigger water change than the 15% i have been doing each day or do i just leave it?
Thanx Sue

 

[DrOizo]

When the nitrites get to 0 you can do water changes once a week of about 15-20% just make sure the nitrates don't get too high and if they do try and find the cause of the problem. e.g. overfeeding dead bits of plants. and do regular water changes.

 

[BIGMAC]

When the nitrites get to 0 you can do water changes once a week of about 15-20% just make sure the nitrates don't get too high and if they do try and find the cause of the problem. e.g. overfeeding dead bits of plants. and do regular water changes.

Thanx for all your help.
Sue

 

[duendecillo]

I have the same problem as you have (had), I put 3 gups in my tank after a week, and the nitrite is too high
It has dropped quite a bit, but it's still not good, and it has been 2 weeks now
I've added some filter foam from an established tank, but I guess it doesn't help that much.
Luckily the fish don't seem to mind that much.

 

[BIGMAC]

I have the same problem as you have (had), I put 3 gups in my tank after a week, and the nitrite is too high
It has dropped quite a bit, but it's still not good, and it has been 2 weeks now
I've added some filter foam from an established tank, but I guess it doesn't help that much.
Luckily the fish don't seem to mind that much.

It can be pretty worrying cant it when the levels go up. My fish seem to be quite happy i just thaught i had done everything wrong.Luck the levels are dropping now.Its all a bit confusing when you dont know so much about the water chemistry an stuff but thanx to these guys on here im learning.
Hope your fish stay ok...mine too.