"Kodiak" wrote in message ...
I have a 220 gallon tank with 6 red devils about
4" long each. Unfortunately the tank was new when
I started (Jan 4th) so I used Biozyme to jumpstart the
bio filter. The Ammonia spike was not so bad i never
hit above 2ppm and just for a few days and i did a few
25% water changes just to be safe.

Unfortuanately the Biozyme dosen't seem to be working
on Nitrite as well as it did on the Ammo. I think I'm
between 2 and 3ppm but it could be way more, i can't tell
because that's where my test kit tops out. The fish were
fine untill today so i did a 30% water change today ( last
water change was 3 days ago) and the reading is still the
same, topped out on the Nitrite scale, it's as if I did nothing!

I don't have access to Biospira, but i wonder if it's better than
Biozyme? Has anyone out there tried "Cycle" ?
The fish are now sitting on the bottom of the tank, not moving is that bad?
They are not at the surface gasping for air, is this a good sign?
Am I gonna lose my fish? Is the Nitrite spike just as bad on the fish
as the Ammo spike? Will there be permanant damage or brown blood disease
etc? I have a 0.1% salt solution, and a Huge 6" airstone with a big air
pump,
will this help? I'm gonna do another 30% water tomorrow, is there anything
else i should do?

PS: filtration is 2 Aquaclear 500.

...Kodiak


Hi Kodiak -- My advice is simply to allow the aquarium to cycle
without adding anything. It will be happy to do so without the extra
cash disappearing from your wallet!

What I would do right now if I were you is to do a big water change or
a series if daily 50 percenters. Dilute the nitrite immediately so it
is no longer at a toxic level.

Nitrite is the product of the breakdown of Ammonia, so the nitrite
spike following the ammonia spike is normal. Since your RDs are
already beyone juvi stage, there should be no danger to them as the
tank goes through this process: but as the ammonia and the
subsequently the nitrite spike, do some partials. In my experience,
establishing a tank takes about five weeks, dependent upon many
variables.

The most difficult thing about cycling a new aquarium is Aquarist
Stress. Relax! Watch the ammonia and then the nitrite, do partial
water changes before those levels get high enough to stress the RDs,
and you'll be ready to rock.

--Mark

Mark Stone tractorlegs at msn dot kom
OSCAR Lovers! http://www.geocities.com/cichlidiot_2000/oscar.html
LEARN THE CYCLE!! http://www.geocities.com/cichlidiot_2000/cycle.html
The ".Edu" meens i are smart.