Would someone interpret my fish tank readings?

P

punkdude7188

New member
I set up a fish tank about 3 weeks ago and totally neglected the nitrogen cycle. Now, I've done much research and my ignorance is coming back to haunt me, but I want a fish expert to interpret these results for me.

I've had the tank for 3 weeks.
The tank size is 20 gallons
When I first got it I added 8 fish--6 glofish and 2 platys
Ammonia = 0.25 ppm
Nitrite = 1 ppm
Nitrate = 5 ppm
pH = 7.6 or greater

Do I just need to keep waiting for the cycle to continue or is there something else I could be doing? I do a water change every couple of days but probably not as much as I should. Thanks for your help.
I also have sand as a substrate
 
Okay, what I personally think you need to do is to do water changes every day instead of every 2 days. This is because even a small amount of Ammonia can cause gill tissue damage and Nitrates can cause suffocation via the blood. Nitrates aren't too much to worry about unless they reach over 40ppm. Never the less, water changes between 25 and 50 percent will resolve this temporarily (for the day) until the Cycle is complete. If you don't have a gravel vacuum, get one because this can kill 2 birds with 1 stone. You clean your gravel whilst taking water out.

I would suggest you buy this product called Prime by Seachem. It's a dechlorinator, conditioner, helps with slime coat and detoxifies ammonia, nitrite and nitrate for 24 hours while still allowing the ammonia to be available to the biological filter. The readings will come back positive for Ammonia and Nitrite, but your fish won't be suffering as much. Also, getting a air pump with an air stone will help the fish get through this.

It seems as though your tank is 25%-50% through the cycle.

Another thing is that you have to monitor your fish. Once their gills can't operate quickly enough to supply their bodies with oxygen they are gone. There is nothing you can do about it and that's why Fish-in cycling is never a good thing, but it's good that you found out about it now to help save them.

So, like I said to keep those fishies alive do the daily water changes and get prime. I wish you the best of luck.
 
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