Cycling: Long Nitrite Spike?

[endempire]

Hey,

Just a quick question regarding the cycling process.

My tank isn't fully cycled yet. Have been doing 20% daily water changes and testing the water every day or second day. About a week ago the Ammonia levels dropped to nearly 0, Nitrates started creeping up to around 10 - 20ppm and the Nitrite hit 1ppm.

This is the expected Nitrite spike yes? If so I was expecting it drop off over a few days and the tank would be cycled. But a week has gone by and the parameters are still the same (Amm 0, Nitrite 1, Nitrate 10-20).

Is this normal? Would the Nitrite be affecting my axi? Should I increase the daily water changes to 40% or more?

Would love your wisdom.

Max

 

[tomkeogh]

Hey, my nitrite spike took quiet a while too just stick with it

 

[blueberlin]

Note that the ammonia-killing bacteria need to be "fed" - do you have a source of ammonia in your tank? You know, whatever you used to start the cycle.

-Eva

 

[dragonlady]

Keep up with the daily 20% water changes. As Tom said, this can take time. Make sure your axie doesn't show any stress. If he stops eating, starts acting erratic, has his gills pointed forward, and/or has the tip of his tail tipped, I would remove him until you get things under control. As blueberlin said though, good bacteria needs to be fed, and axolotls are a very good source of ammonia!

 

[endempire]

Ok thanks for the advice - guess I just gotta be patient...

Yeh the axolotl is in the tank so is providing the 'food' for the bacteria. And I'm guessing they're eating it as the daily water changes take the nitrite back down to 0.25-0.5ppm and by the next day it's up to 1ppm again.

Is it at all detrimental to the bacteria build up to perform greater daily water changes? I've heard that changing massive amounts of water can crash the cycle, but also have heard that bacteria inhabit surfaces not the water?

Not that I don't mind being patient for the tank to cycle, but I would imagine that the greater water changes would decrease the levels of ammonia and nitrite and thus be friendlier to the axolotl. Thoughts?

Max