recycling tank

Question
Hi, I have a five gallon tank, I have since learned how difficult they are to keep stable, the fish I put in it did not survive but the tank cycled and was stable. I've had an otocinclus for a month doing well, then put in a mollie that I lost 3 weeks later despite water changes every 3-4 days. The nitrite levels were mod. high,did a water change,stable again and oto is still alive, is my tank recycling? Test strip says nitrates normal but nitrites have gone up twice. Ammonia levels normal also. I don't plan on more fish but would like to keep the oto alive and possibly get an oto friend.
Appreciate any advice.

Answer
Hi Ruth;

It isn't "re-cycling" but is trying to adjust to the new larger population you had in there. Once the nitrites drop, add only one small fish (under an inch) and wait for the levels to return to normal if they rise again. It usually takes about a week. Add one small fish a week until it is at the desired population. Try getting a different kind of fish to go with your oto that stays smaller, such as a couple of male dwarf platies, or a small school of 3 zebra danios. Mollies actually get pretty large (3 or 4 inches) and need more room than a 5 gallon can offer. These guys are all schooling fish too so their health and vitality can be compromised if without their own kind to associate with.

Avoid overfeeding because it can lengthen the process of biological balance adjustment considerably and cause death again. Only feed what the fish will eat from all areas of the tank in 5 minutes once a day. Or, if you like to feed twice a day, feed what they can consume in less than a couple of minutes twice day. The whole idea is that they can eat for 5 minutes in one day.

Most fish, especially otos, enjoy vegetables such as cooked green beans, cooked peeled peas, romaine lettuce, sliced cucumbers, and shredded cooked carrots. They can be left in the tank for several hours to nibble on, unlike dried foods that rot very quickly. They have lots of healthy fiber. Skip feeding regular dried foods 3 times a week and drop in a little chunk of veggies instead. They will love it!

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins