How to get that final Nitrite Level to 0 PPM

amanda46051

amanda46051

Member
I just wanted to solicit the collective on how I can get my Nitrites to 0 PPM.
Here is what we got:
125 Gallons
Skimmer
Wet/Dry
UV Light
140 lb live Sand
100 lbs of live Rock
600-720 Watts of Lights
Lot of pumps and power heads
Tank has been on line for 3 Months
Ammonia is 0 PPM
Nitrates is 0 PPM
Nitrites is about .25 PPM
Some people say to get rid of the bio balls and other people say you can never get the nitrites to zero. Any thoughts?
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
Do a 20% water change; some time that is all it takes.
If this is a FOWLR are there any fish in yet, could be over feeding.
Bio balls are a waste of space C.C. or a fine sponge would be better.
How many inches is your sand and is it fine or course (fine 2-3in course 3-5in).
And last I am at a 1 to 1 rock to water and no nitrate so it can be done.
 
rcoultas

rcoultas

Member
you can get rid of the bioballs and convert that chamber of the wet n dry to a refugium - adding chaeto will help with the nitrates
 
A

allenk

Guest
You do not have to do anything to get nitrItes to go to zero. This will happen automatically as the tank cycles. As the tank cycles, bacteria forms to break down waste material into nitrites. A second type of bacteria will form due to the presence of nitrItes. This bacteria breaks the nitrItes into nitrAtes.
You can remove nitrates by doing water changes or using plants, etc.
The existence of nitrites is part of the cycling of the tank. They will go to zero when the tank is fully cycled.
 
rcoultas

rcoultas

Member
Originally Posted by allenk
You do not have to do anything to get nitrItes to go to zero. This will happen automatically as the tank cycles. As the tank cycles, bacteria forms to break down waste material into nitrites. A second type of bacteria will form due to the presence of nitrItes. This bacteria breaks the nitrItes into nitrAtes.
You can remove nitrates by doing water changes or using plants, etc.
The existence of nitrites is part of the cycling of the tank. They will go to zero when the tank is fully cycled.

That is not correct - the nitrates will not automatically go to zero unless you have
a: a well balance system that has the ability to complete the nitrification process (which converts nitrates to nitrogen gas) or
b: a way to physically remove the excess nitrates (such as micro algae like chaeto) or through regular water changes
Sorry - my bad - just reread your post and saw that you said NITRITES no nitrates. The above is still true however.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Amanda, is it nitrite or nitrate that is at .25? Nitrite will break down in time, nitrate has to be removed either via water changes or having a refuge stocked with plant life.
 
T

tizzo

Guest
The source of nitrates is added to the tank.
(I'm not even going to mention tap water)
What do you feed, how often and how many and what kind of fish do you have??
Before you start disassembling your tank and changing everything out, find the source.
 
amanda46051

amanda46051

Member
The levels in the post are correct. We have the following fish etc.:
8 Fish (Fox Face, 2 clowns, 2 Cardinals, 1 DottyBack, 1 Mandarin dragonnet, 1 Royal Gamma, a watchman goby, a neon goby)
1 CUC (Assorted snails, shrimp, etc.
We still have the bio balls. I am running a protein skimmer, phosban and charchoal in wet dry.
What is chaeto and where do we get it? We havent tried to convert the Wet Dry to a refugium but sounds like a good idea.
tia for your help and reply
 
amanda46051

amanda46051

Member
In terms of feeding we are feeding the following:
1) I cube of frozen brine shrimp
2) 1 cube of frozen cyclops
3) Few shrimp pellets
We feed once a day.
Is this too much?
They usually goble it up in one minute or two.
 
T

tizzo

Guest
2 full cubes and pellets each day?? I would say that's prolly the original source of your trates. It's a big change for you and your prolly not gonna take the advice at first, but if I were you, I would cut both the cubes in half and feed every other day.
Your fish will not go hungry as I only feed mine every 4 days.
A fish's daily amt should be equivelent to the size of it's eyeball, which isn't much even if you have 8 fish.
Definately cut back on the feedings, either amount or frequency.Some hermits would also help.
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
cheato is a macroalgae. it looks like spaghetti. it run abour $15-20 per fist-size. great at getting rid of phosphate or nitrate. i added to my fuge 3 months ago, and i see a big change in water quality.
 
tinmanny

tinmanny

Member
you can get algae's at your lfs or from here lots of people sell it and it will eat up the excess nitrates give it a try
Good Luck
Manny
 
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