Francesjane
Fish Fanatic
Hi,I am very new to having fish and I am going through a cycle right now, but, unfortunately, and with no thanks to my LFS I was not informed about the nitrogen cycle and so could not work out why I lost 4 tetra overnight. I was only told to let the tank sit for 48 hours and make sure I added a water conditioner. This I did, then when my fish died that night I was mortified ! I took a water sample to the shop the next day without telling them about my fish dying and was told the water was fine...I then told them about my fish dying to which they clearly were feeling a little uncomfortable and said that I could have a refund !!!! I told them I wasn't worried about the money, but was upset about the fish. I was then advised to try some more fish, which I did and brought home 3 silver tipped tetra because I was told they were hardy. That night I lost two. One little tetra is still with me 5 weeks on I am pleased to say, so I bought him 3 buddies, knowing he is a shoal fish, and also 3 glow tetra. They are all doing ok, apart from three silver tips seem a little rough chasing the other silver tip and 2 of the glow tetra around.... then....to my horror i came home and decided to look on google hoping I might find something that could explain why my first 4 little fish died, and of course found details on the nitrogen cycle. I therefore decided to buy an api master test kit, to see what my water was telling me and although ammonia is fine my nitrite is hovering between 2 and 5 on the colour chart. My nitrate is about 80. Ok, now panic sets in because I know nitrite is toxic and I don't want to put my fish through anything bad so I looked again on google and it seemed water changes might help. For the past week I have been doing two partial water changes a day about 25%. No change to nitrite at all...today I done a 50% to see if I could get the level down and it's exactly the same reading as before the water change. I have 0 nitrite in my tap water....what can I do to get it down because I am getting real frustrated it won't go down and don't want to lose my fish. I have a 28L with a pretty good pump and heater of course. I make sure that i use my water conditioner and anti-stress everytime and I feel now as if its my water changes keeping the fish alive so I dare not stop. Please help...I feel totally stuck.