Very High Nitrites

[chrisely24]

Here is the background on the Nitrite problem.
The tank is approx 2 1/2 months old. It went through the normal cycle and maybe a month ago I noticed that my Nitrites were through the roof (between 2.0 and 5.0 ppm), And my Ammonia was high.
I ran out and got some Prime on recommendation and that brought it down. Then about 2 weeks ago I ran into a problem with ich and removed my fish to a ht.
The DT has been fishless now for 14 days and I just checked the parameters Ammonia 0, Nitrites 2.0 to 5.0 and Nitrates are at 0.0 to 5.0. testing with API master.
The only things that have been in the tank for the last 14 days are Snails, Hermits, 1 Cleaner shrimp, and a Serpent star. i have been feeding the shrimp half a block of Emerald entree which the others eat too.

I have a Purigen bag in with the filter media and thats it.

Any idea why the nitrates would be that high?

 

[jay0705]

Api is known to read high nitrates. The ammonia would be an issue but that has dropped. You could try some macro alage. It will feed off the ammonia and nitrates. But u shouldn't have ammonia.
Also w ich leave your display fishless atleast 4wks , but 6 is best

 

[chrisely24]

Thanks Jay, I know the API reads high on nitrates so they are probably at zero but, the nitrites are what i am concerned about. The tank still has a few more weeks to go fishless and I would like to get my levels evened out before then.

 

[bang guy]

Nitrite at your level are fairly harmless. The only concern is that Nitrite above 0.00 is an indication that something has disturbed your bacteria population.

Any contaminants get into the tank possibly?

 

[pegasus]

It depends on how old API test kits are... as to how accurate they aren't. In other words, they're not very good when new, and get worse as they age. Kind of reminds me of myself... lol!

 

[flower]

Nitrite at your level are fairly harmless. The only concern is that Nitrite above 0.00 is an indication that something has disturbed your bacteria population.

Any contaminants get into the tank possibly?

I agree...what he said...

 

[chrisely24]

No contaminants that i know of. i have glass tops and the sump is enclosed.

 

[flower]

No contaminants that i know of. i have glass tops and the sump is enclosed.

Hi,

Glass tops are not good for a saltwater tank. there is less oxygen in SW, it needs the top open for good gas exchange.

 

[chrisely24]

Thanks but is that causing my nitrites?

 

[bang guy]

No

Consider getting a second opinion from a new test kit just so you know for sure that you're not chasing a non-existent problem.

How much waterflow do you have in the system?

What is the PH of the water?

 

[flower]

Thanks but is that causing my nitrites?

After you double check your test results, and find you indeed have nitrites, you may have had something die and not enough CUC to take care of it. Nitrites is stage #2 after ammonia, the result of an unbalanced tank.

Unbalances are caused by a few things:

• A dead critter deep in the rocks rotting (a good CUC will prevent this)
• A new introduced critter, or too many critters too fast.
• Overfeeding
• Cleaning the tank to the point you destroy the good bacteria colonies, (removing too much media sponges from your filter for example).
• Removing live rock or fake décor, actually any hard surface where the good bacteria colonies build, if you remove them, you remove the colonies.

 

[chrisely24]

Thanks, I did have to pull a lot of stuff out of tank to get that #$@@# lawn mower out and into the ht. Maybe that disturbed my cycle.
Gonna order some salifert test kits this weekend.

I have about 25 hermits and maybey 15 snails in the 60 for cuc.

 

[trigger40]

moving the rocks around could be a cause of the problem. +1 to macroalgae it will solve all your problems.

 

[chrisely24]

Don't know much about microalgae. What's that about?

 

[flower]

Don't know much about microalgae. What's that about?

Hi,

Macroalgae is a kind of plant for lack of a better way to say it. Some types grow fast, and are suited for a refugium, and others are decorative and slow growing, making them suitable for the display. Check out "Golf Coast Ecosystems"

Macros live on the nasty stuff in your water (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and phosphates, even iron) and use it to grow. When it needs to be pruned (called harvesting) you remove those nasty's from your system, as you throw out the stuff you plucked... It becomes a cycle, you let them grow and feed on the bad stuff, then remove the extra growth, which removes the bad stuff from the system...this keeps your water quality pristine. It costs about $10.00 a pint, and you only have to purchase it once, then you either give away the extra growth you prune away, or just toss it out.

 

[chrisely24]

Cool thanks Flower I will check in to that this weekend. I don't have a refugium in this tank but my next tank I will add one.
Plants in the tank might work for the 60

 

[jay0705]

Flower, where do u get your macro? In my area, most of what I can find is cheato.

 

[flower]

Flower, where do u get your macro? In my area, most of what I can find is cheato.

Golf Coast ecosystems...if they are out of a certain type, just hang on and keep checking back until it's in season. It took waiting 3 months to get the Botryocladia (red grape) I wanted for the seahorse tank.

 

[jay0705]

Oh excellent thank you. I was looking for some the fish eat as well. That will wrk

 

[pegasus]

Oh excellent thank you. I was looking for some the fish eat as well. That will wrk

Ulva and red gracilaria come to mind immediately. I also haven't had much luck raising tea cups or fern caulerpa in the display, as the fish eat those really fast, too.