Question: Tank cycling update! High Nitrites?

[Nightfury1]

At the moment my tank is at:
PH: 7.8
Ammonia: 0.50 ppm
Nitrite: 5 ppm
Nitrate: 0.35 ppm
Temp: 68 *F

I was gone for a few days and haven't been able to to a water change yet, but I am planning on doing it today. I have already done one so far, so I think i'm on the right track. As for my understand I should now do a 20% water change everyday until my Ammonia and Nirtrites reach 0 ppm and Nitrates reach 40 ppm. Is that correct? Because i'm really excited to get my axolotls and can't wait
I was also curious on why my Nitrites were so high?
I should be picking up some java moss any day now to grow so I think that will help.
Plus will my ammonia ever really be at 0 ppm? I am doing a fish-in cycling, so won't that be a cause of a lot of ammonia?

 

[auntiejude]

Why are you doing fish-in cycling, and what are you using? If you don't have axies yet it's the perfect opportunity to do a fishless cycle which is much easier and quicker.

Nitrates are the end result of the nitrogen cycle, they will always be highest in a fully cycled tank. Ammonia is that start of the cycle:
NH4 -> NO2 -> NO3

Bacteria will eventually turn ALL ammonia and nitrite into nitrates, which is the whole point of the cycle. The ammonia will eventually come down to 0 when enough bacteria have grown in the filter and on any substrate. Nitrates can be absoebed by plants or removed with water changes.

 

[Nightfury1]

I never wanted to do fish-in cycling, but my dad and I are both doing it and he wanted to do the fish-in and I was over ruled :/ I have about 20ish little guppies and 2 ghost shrimp in the tank at the moment. I've got 5 moss balls in there as well which help a lot. I was really just curious on if I was doing it right and all.
Thanks so much for explaining the nitrates!

 

[layna]

If your doing a fish in cycle you need to be doing a 20% water change either every day or every other day depending on your ammonia and nitrite readings, anything above 0.5ppm and you risk killing whatever fish you have in there (which will also create ammonia but isnt very nice)!

You need to start testing daily and doing a water change dependant on the readings However your cycle has started so thats good

A fishless cycle is much quicker and fish friendly! and only involves water changes at the very end.