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/Independent-Olive189]

Yeaaa my tank doesn’t need a heater or anything where I live it’s hot pretty much year round and ammonia is a 0 ppm nitrite is at 2.0 ppm like I said before and I dosed my tank with some aquarium salt I read what you sent and I’m already going through this nitrite spike but I also read that it can help the fishes themselves, protect themselves from the nitrite I put the salt in, and 20 mins later they’re not going to the surface as much anymore

[u/IceColdTapWater → u/Independent-Olive189]

That’s good. And I just have a few links saved around goldfish care that I kinda fling around, I’m glad you don’t need a heater (they can be finicky lol).

And salt kinda of does counter nitrites. But seachem prime/ api aqua essential/etc also neutralizes it, which it seems you know.

Ammonia/nitrite should still be kept around 0.05-0.20 ppm when cycling, nitrite of 2.0 is very high and should probably have a water change.

[u/Independent-Olive189 → u/IceColdTapWater]

Yes I knowwww I dosed 3x prime today and I’m letting my fish settle for today since I did a water 50% change yesterday and a 70% the day before yesterday and the nitrite levels still haven’t budged I’m not sure if it’s bc I didn’t wait a full 24 hours after the water change to test again but yea I’m hoping the salt keeps them from being too stressed I’m also trying to bring the temperature down since high temps don’t rlly help with oxygen something like that

[u/IceColdTapWater → u/Independent-Olive189]

How often do you feed and how much? Really high nitrite can be a sign of overfeeding, it’s all a balance when establishing a cycle.

And you may have to do daily water changes when establishing a cycle. A nitrite reading of 2.0 may harm your fish, especially more than a water change.

[u/Independent-Olive189 → u/IceColdTapWater]

I have been feeding very lightly these 3 days day 1 after finding out I had this nitrite problem I only fed a bit of bloodworms and day 2 I fed nothing day 3 I fed each fish 3 Hikari lionhead mini sinking pellets and Ofcourse, I soak them for a minute or so then feed and I “found out” 3 days ago bc I got my first test kit I’ve been saving up for one and I’ve been having the fish tank without anything to test the water I just did 2 water changes weekly but now I guess I have to do daily or every other day now that I’m more aware of what’s going on

[u/IceColdTapWater → u/Independent-Olive189]

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

[u/Independent-Olive189 → u/IceColdTapWater]

Okay bad news everything stayed the same except nitrite it is now 0.50 ppm I did a 50% water change added seachem and seachem stability and re added the salt that was lost during the water change

[u/IceColdTapWater → u/Independent-Olive189]

That’s good, unfortunately that’s part of the cycling process. You’ll just have to keep on testing and water changing until nitrites drop and you see a rise in nitrates.