High Nitrites!

[luckypenny]

This is a great forum and thanks for all the help everyone gives!!

My tank has been set for about two weeks now. I have some cichlids and two clown loaches. The water was clear but now has been cloudy for 5 day's now. Ive added cycle to the tank Monday but it's still cloudy ( a milky white cloudiness). My nitrite level has spiked to 8.0 I know this is harmful. My fish are doing fine though. Ive read that when it spikes my cycle process my be about over and the nitrite level should come down to 0 is thgis correct?? On Friday I did about a 25% water change----I have a 75 gallon tank?

 

[jsa500]

Hi,
This means you must have a good population of nitrosomonas bacteria ( the one that converts ammonia to nitrite). The nitrobacter bacteria converts nitrite to nitrate so if the level of nitrite is high then it follows that the nitrobacter population is not sufficient for your tank. Eventually it will come down but I would do some water changes in the mean time. It's not a good idea to subject your fish to high levels of nitrite

Good luck!

 

[ferrikins]

I'd say you got another 2 weeks or so.

Cycle does'nt work, I have no idea what it contains or what it does. Just know it does'nt help with cycling your tank and is a wast of money.

 

[Def]

If your nitrite is 8.0, you need to do a 50% water change immediately and add some cycle. Cycle does work in my experience. Your fish will suffer pretty quick at that nitrite level.