My 55 gallon tank is cycling and the parameters are sky- rocketing.
My current parameters are the following:
Ammonia=0.25
Nitrite=10.0 ppm(mg/l)
Nitrate=40 ppm(mg/l)
gh=120 ppm
alkalinity=120 ppm
pH=6.8-7.2

I've also performed a 30% water change everyday for the past week. The only thing that went down was the ammonia, from 10 to .25. Today I went to my lfs and I was given some bacteria to add to my tank. I hope this will help get rid of the high nitrite and nitrates. Oh, I have 2 loaches and only 4 small to med. size goldies. One of my fish did not make it. Crazy eyes died do to the stress. I must also say that while changing the water, I also added conditioners as well as stress coat to the water. Is there anything I should do next?

lots of small frequent water changes. keep testing the water between changes to check levels. i was going to say add some salt but you have loaches so thats not a good idea. good luck

Thanks Sandy. I forgot to mention that I think I know way these parameters are so high. I put too many live black worms in the tank as a treat for them. Now, they're either dying or multiplying, causing more waste. What a mess.

do you use a gravel vac? this should help clean the gravel for you.

That is not enough - I would step up the amount of water you are changing until you get it a little more in line.

ON the other hand Prime can be used as an emergency nitrite detoxifier. Just follow the directions on the bottle

Good Luck!

Jenn

Thanks Sandy and Fisharenewtome(Jenn). I do use a gravel vac. I did not consider using Prime. Will this destroy the bacteria on my biowheels? I have 2- 330 peguin filters on my tank.

Prime, Amquell+ and other "conditioners" that are designed to bind the toxic substances into less toxic forms do not harm the cycle at all. The nitrite and ammonia is still available for the beneficial bacteria to utilize.

Is there anyway you can remove some of the fish from that tank and perhaps put them in a tub or such? 4 goldies and 2 loaches is a very full load for a cycled 55 gallon tank - they would max out a good cycle - and trying to keep their waste (plus the blackworms) under control is going to be a HUGE chore for you and may not be possible.

I would suggest that you do a 40% water change or more each day, just do not disturb your biofilter. Do not be afraid to vacumn the heck out of the gravel - at least while you have a blackworm problem.

Perhaps a friend can give you a bag of "seasoned" gravel? Can you find some BioSpira in a lfs near you or order it via internet? Would your lfs give you or sell you a bag of gravel?

Let us know how it is going!!!! I care.........

Thanks Darryl
I found a lfs that gave me some good bacteria to put into the tank. I'm going to check the pasrameters in a minute. I'll let you know what tey are in a few. Thanks for caring. Write you soon!!!