Frustrated !

Francesjane

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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.
 
How about trying a bottle of safestart by tetra. When I didn't know about cycling and I already had some phantom tetras in my tank and my nitrite way sky high I used a bottle of safestart and it cycled the tank in a week and no fish died! It would make the process a lot easier for your fish, and next time you have a new tank read up on a fishless cycle I found it way faster and easier then a fishin cycle, good luck! :)
 
Bigger water changes will help, a 90% should get the nitrite in controllable levels. If the nitrite is still readable, do another 50% water change.

If you could get your hands on some mature filter media then your nitrite will be much less of a problem.

Unfortunately, the tetras aren't suitable for a 28L :/
It would be best if you either rehome them now (and do a fishless cycle - details found in my signature) or continue your cycle with them and then rehome them (or upgrade them).
There are many fish that can go in a 28L, if you go to the nano fish section you will find a pinned topic, if you look at it you will find a list of fish suitable for your tank size :)
 
I am in the process of doing a fishless cycle in a 48L tank and won't be getting any more fish while I have my current 7... Please tell me they will be ok until I can transfer them!
 
Yeah, they'll be fine until then.
To speed up the fishless cycle, you could take a little bit of filter media from your smaller tank (only take a really small piece, too large of a piece could make the ammonia spike in the smaller tank).
 
So filter media as some filter sponge or wool from my filter pump yes? Sorry...like I said, I'm learning
 
Yea but you'll need to replace what you've taken so the bacteria from your smaller tank can multiply! U can take just under a third of the sponge then perhaps take some from ur un established tank to put back in the other! Basically a swap!!
 
I wouldn't even do as much as a 1/3. In an established tank it is safe, but in a cycling tank it could cause lots of problems.
 
1/6 would be more of an appropriate amount. As the cycle proceeds, you can take more. :)
 
I thought the smaller was established!!! Must have miss read!!
 

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