The Puffer Forum

I have been cycling my tank now for a month and 4 days with three small tiger barbs(no other animals in tank). It is a freshwater 10G tank with three live plants, the rest are fake. Substrate is gravel.
I have been keeping a log of my parameters and everything is perfect except for the nitrite level. It has been increasing each week steadily. It is now at 5ppm, and I know it is supposed to be at 0ppm!
I do a 1/3 water change each week. What could be the cause of the high nitrite level and what would you recommend I could do to get it at 0?
Help please!

Its not done cycling yet. Once both the ammonia and nitrite levels are zero, then its done. This can take anywhere from 3-8 weeks, give or take a few.

My experience is that it spikes just before it drops off- so if it were my tank, I would assume you're almost home free.

Wow thanks for such quick replies, I feel much better now, I was convinced I was doing something horribly wrong!
Thanks, I'll keep checking it each week then until all the levels look good- I have my eye on a SAP at the LFS when the tank is fully cycled. I'm bringing the barbs home to my dad over the holidays, so it will just be a lone SAP in there- Cannot wait !!!!

Yea, I'm bored...the office is real quiet today, boss and co-workers are off and I'm leaving early- so I'm BORED!

I use a pair of Giant Danio's to help cycle my tanks- I moved them to a 10g lastnight and they always act like- "wahoo!! time to get jiggy, come here baby!!"