Is ACE bad?

[lelover]

As I've read more about cycling I've started to wonder if I've done something wrong. I have been treating my water with ACE (ammonia chlorine/chloramine eliminator). By using this am I starving the beneficial bacteria? I have been cycling with danios for nearly a month. My ammonia levels never rose above .5, but my nitrites have spiked off the charts this last week.

 

[Nina7777]

I am not familiar with the product you are talking about. But it sounds like a normal dechlorinator. I'm surprised that your nitrites have spiked! When you say spike: what was the exact reading?

If you are really concerned that this product is doing more harm than good. than try something like stress coat to remove the chlorine and chloramine. and Start doing water changes untill the nitrites have gone done.

Sounds like your cycle is almost complete but you still need to take care of the high levels of nitrite. when you get 0 amonia and 0 nitrite and a nitrate reading for several consecutive days, it means your tank has finished cycling.

 

[lelover]

I guess if the ACE was starving the bacteria then my nitrites would not have spiked. Is that a safe assumption? The reading is about 5.0. I changed the water 2 days ago and will do it again today. I hope it starts to go down.

 

[Nina7777]

imo thats a safe assumption.

As far as that nitrite level, start doing 25% water changes everyday. Its much too high.

 

[tstenback]

Danios are very tough fish but a nitrite reading of 5 is very high and can cause long lasting health problems for the fish. So take Nina7777's advice to heart and start those water changes as soon as you can. I would even start with one 50% change. Good luck with the rest of the cycle

 

[lelover]

Thank you all. I will do daily water changes. Should I continue until the level drops to 1 or so? I hope my zebras do all right and that the cycling finishes quickly!

 

[tstenback]

Yeh 1 is a good bench mark

 

[Aquagurl]

hey lelover!!! remember me: Aquagurl! Check your e-mail! i e-mailed you!