I had to move my 55-gal to a new location. I took my canister filter with me so cycling wasn't needed. I filled the tank last Thurs. evening. On Fri. afternoon I tested the nitrite and ammonia (ran out of nitrate test drops, need to get more), and both were normal (I lost the color cards, but it was yellow and light blue, the usual colors when there are no ammonia or nitrites in the tank). Sunday evening I stop in to feed them, and two of my fish were dead. Boss had left heat on an ungodly hot setting, and the water temp. rose to the point where I believe that's what killed them (I was SO upset). I never would have had the heater on to such a degree if I knew he was going to crank up the heat. But I digress..... The dead fish must have been sitting in the water for a while (24 hours at least I'm guessing) and were rapidly decaying. I removed them and this morning tested the water to find high nitrites (a deep purple...again, I don't know the number because I've lost the cards 
). I did a 10 gal. water change, and tested again tonight....same thing, so I added the "emergency" level of Prime, 5 capfuls. Can someone tell me if I am doing the right thing? I thought dead fish would raise the ammonia levels (they ARE raised, but the color is greenish-yellow, not all the way green), but I didn't know it would affect the nitrites. Should I do another water change tomorrow morning, and if so how much? Should I add more Prime? The water is heavily chlorenated, but I still don't think that's what caused this because like I said, it tested fine the day after I filled the tank.
Thanks for reading and for any suggestions.
). I did a 10 gal. water change, and tested again tonight....same thing, so I added the "emergency" level of Prime, 5 capfuls. Can someone tell me if I am doing the right thing? I thought dead fish would raise the ammonia levels (they ARE raised, but the color is greenish-yellow, not all the way green), but I didn't know it would affect the nitrites. Should I do another water change tomorrow morning, and if so how much? Should I add more Prime? The water is heavily chlorenated, but I still don't think that's what caused this because like I said, it tested fine the day after I filled the tank.Thanks for reading and for any suggestions.
