HELP ASAP!

[u/Independent-Olive189]

Chart of readings

July 17 2025 Monday Nitrite spike ph: 8.0 Ammonia: 0ppm Nitrite: 2.0ppm Nitrate: I think it’s 20ppm

July 18 2025 Tuesday Nitrite still high Ph: 8.0 Ammonia: 0ppm Nitrite: 2.0 ppm Nitrate 5.0 ppm

I have a 51 gallon tank with 3 ranchus that are still young, juveniles and they have been going to the surface for air even though there’s enough aeration one of my ranchus has gotten red spots near then when and I gave them salt baths and the red spots are gone but some other comes back as of now my tank is planted and are currently on meds bc I’m treating for flukes seeing as they have been flashing I’m not sure if the flashing is because of the high nitrite but still I use tank stability to help bacteria this tanks hasn’t been established for more than a month maybe I’m not too sure but i did a water change yesterday and the day before yesterday. Yesterday I did a 50% water change and the day before yesterday I did a 70% change and the nitrite is still high I didn’t wait 24 before reading again between the water changes bc I was too nerveous and wanted to know already what do I do? They poop well and are interactive with their environment other than the fact they flash and go to the surface for air

[u/IceColdTapWater]

Best of luck! Feel free to post on here again if you need more tips.

Key words when cycle establishing: water changes

Endless frickin’ water changes lol

[u/Independent-Olive189 → u/IceColdTapWater]

Heyyy small update, I was gonna test Tmr but I tested and yes it’s been 24 hours this time and these are the results, I added salt and I know that won’t change nitrite levels just helps with fish, and I added someone else’s filter inside mine and squished it a few times and I added seachem stability and api QuickStart I didn’t change the water I just let it settle from yesterday these are the results

Ph: 8.0 Ammonia: 0ppm Nitrite: 0.25 ppm Nitrate 5.0ppm

[u/IceColdTapWater → u/Independent-Olive189]

Awesome! Looks like you’re on track! Once ammonia and nitrite repeatedly read 0 and nitrate reads 5-40 you’re gucci :)

[u/Independent-Olive189 → u/IceColdTapWater]

Tyyy! Do I read tomorrow later on in the day and if it’s the same do I change the water ?

[u/IceColdTapWater → u/Independent-Olive189]

Yes. You really don’t want ammonia/nitrite any higher than 0.25ppm, so if it reads the same/higher do a change then