The nitrites in my main tank have been spiking for over a MONTH now, and I'm getting really fed up with it.

During the week, they stayed steady at 0.25 for several days, so I thought hurrah! - the cycle's re-establishing itself at last and by the weekend I should have no nitrites showing at all. But tonight, glory be if they aren't back up to 2.0. again. For God's sake!!!

My new tank - which I started up a month ago - has completely cycled from start to finish during the time I have been trying to get the nitrites down in the old tank, THAT's how long it's been going on!

What could be preventing the bacteria from kicking in? The pH is 8 - always has been - there's no additives in the water except a hint of Melafix, and the temp is 24*C / 75*F. There's 3 goldfish in 30 gallons, internal (Fluval 3) filter with some Clearwater stuff in the middle (supposed to remove nitrites, nitrates and phosphates), live plants, river rocks and gravel. I feed sparingly twice a day.

Any suggestions much appreciated!

Have you got a spare tank? if so try putting one of your fish in it temporarily to allow the biobugs in your main tank to catch up. Once the nitrites go down to 0, add the other fish back in and see how you go then.

No, I haven't. I only have my other populated tank (3 fish in 30 galls) which has *just* finished cycling and the fish in there are having finrot problems. But thanks for the suggestion - it was a very good one.

Maybe I could buy a spare hospital tank or something.

Emma. why not take some of the water from the already cycled tank and place it into the unccyled tank to give it a boost.

This is strange why this tank isnt kicking in:(

That's a good idea - didn't think of that. I'll move a bit of gravel over too.

Thanks Koko - you always come to my rescue!

If there are fin rot problems, are you not transfering heart ache to the newer tank?

Didnt see that. Your right untill the fish in the new tank are clear I wouldnt use water from that tank:(

Plus I discovered today that my little moor has popeye and Harris - my big calico fantail - has some sort of bloody tissue coming out of the underside of his tail (I *think* he might have caught it on something, but could be an infection I guess. ). Either way, all the fish in there are now on Medi-Gold and I sure won't be moving anything across to the other tank.

Any other suggestions on the nitrites problem then guys? Thanks for your help.