Nitrite spike

[missgingersnap]

So, I'm at the nitrite spike in my cycle. The test says it's at 1. I did an almost 50% water change to try to dilute it and it didn't budge at all. I plan on doing another 50% water change again tomorrow to hopefully bring it down. Is this the right thing to do? Should I be doing this daily if it stays at 1? Any other ideas? I want to make sure my fish live through this. Thanks!

[vinz]

Water changes can lengthen the cycle if your water source is high in chlorine, chloramine or other chemicals added to sanitise the water. The chemicals can kill the nitrogen cycle bacteria that we want in our tank.

Also, in order for the bacteria colony to grow to handle the actual nitrite/ammonia/ammonium load, it must have food. If you change water too often, you remove the food that allows the colony to grow.

In other words, by changing water too frequently, you may be sabotaging the cycling process.

If you are still using Seachem Prime and it is still working, then I say don't change water. Don't forget, Prime is suppose to keep the various N compounds biologically available to the bacteria (while fish safe), so the test kit might actually detect those as well. As long as your fish are not showing adverse symptoms of nitrite poisoning, just keep with the Seachem prime.

I would stop water changes until the tank is cycled (if Prime is working).

Reduce feeding. Just enough that the fish don't starve.

Remove uneaten food within 5 mins.

Feed in small amounts many times a day, rather then one big feed once a day. A big feed means a big spike once a day. Many small feeds will introduce many small spikes (of uneaten food and fish poo) which the cycle can handle quickly.

If you must change water (i.e. fish showing symptoms or dying), then make sure you use aged water (24 hours or more if possible) that have been treated with anti-chlorine/chloramine, etc.

EDIT:
Other idea: Get a CLEAN makeshift tank, like a plastic pail or something. Set up a temporary holding tank, shift most of your fish over and leave the hardiest in the main tank. Run the makeshift tank for your fish to survive (i.e. frequent water change, water treatments, temporary filter, etc). Run the main tank to cycle (i.e. less/no water change, less water treatment (still need to let the cycling fish survive), less feeding, etc).

Use an air-pump operated filter for the makeshift tank. Make sure you start the temporary filter with some media from the existing filter.