Ammonia, Nitrite levels

[LiveSquid]

Here's the thing.. Im a newbie and I never heard of 'cycling a tank' before a few days ago. So I check my ammonia, I check my nitrite, and the levels are sky high. So I develop a plan: Start over. Problem is, my tank is planted and fully (probably over-) populated already. So the plan gets to the point of buying biospira and starting over.

So I move the fish to a smaller, temporary home and drain the main tank. I remove the plants and sand and clean it thoroughly and fill the tank with water that has been treated with SeaChem Prime. I warm the water to 72F and add the biospira as per the directions on the pack. I wait a few more hours and then I reintroduce my fish. This should work yes?

I did all this last night. This morning I check my levels again. My ammonia is at 0.5ppm and my nitrites are at 0.05. Should I let it go or should I be concerned? I obviously dont want to lose my fish, but I dont know what other options I have to speed the cycle along. I know that an ammonia spike is par for the course when waiting for the cycle to begin, but I am getting nervous.

Can anyone please give me some advice? I am tempted to let the ammonia build as per the cycling 'manuals' Ive read, but as I said, I am nervous. I like my little fishy buddies.

Thanks a heap.

 

[Harlock]

From everything I have seen and read, even when using BIO-Spira you can expect a small spike at the beginning. The key is to see if your nitrAtes are coming up. If they are, then it is usually a sign that the nitrifying bacteria have taken a foothold and are doing their thing. You can keep testing the water and keep an eye on it that way. Also, water changes will save your fish buddies' lives when you are forced into a fishy cycle. If the BIO-Spira didn't take, then you are looking at a fishy cycle, unless you have a spare tank or the LFS will take them back for a bit. If that is the case, daily water changes of 50% water volume can be used to keep the levels of toxicity in check.

Oh, and Welcome to AC!

 

[LiveSquid]

Thanks for the info. How long should it take before I see a drop in ammonia? Its a 20 gallon tank 76-78F, pH of 7.4

 

[TKOS]

It depends on how many fish you have in the tank, but within 24 hours you should see a drop. If the tank can show no ammonia for a 24 hour period (and no nitrites as well), then it is considered fully cycled. I wouldn't do a water change for ammonia that low unless you really want to. Keeping ammonia under 2ppm or 1ppm (better) is generally safe for most fish. If after 24 hours the ammonia hasn't dropped then a water change certainly won't hurt, especially if the ammonia is still climbing.

Sounds like things are going fine now. Don't change the filter media, just keep rinsing it out after water changes in the future. And once the tank is settled, start doing water changes weekly, enough to keep nitrates below 10-20ppm. Usually 30% a week is fine, but somepeople strive for 50% or more per week. With a 20 gallon 30-50% isn't too hard.

 

[LiveSquid]

Thanks, guys.. I appreciate all the info. It has certainly pt my mind more at ease. I was practically panicked when I posted this morning.

Thanks again!