Nitrites!

[cubuffs]

I currently have a nitrite problem in my 180 gallon. It currently is home to 2 bamboos, a zebra moray, and a cali stingray. As for filtration, I have 2 prizm deluxe skimmers, 4 powerheads, and 60 lbs of live rock. I realize that I am vastly underfiltered, but I am purchasing a eheim 2260 in the next few days.
My question is: besides water changes, and limiting the feeding, what else can I do in the meantime to keep the nitrites low? THANKS FOR ALL OF THE HELP IN ADVANCE.

 

[ktsdad]

I have only been doing Marine tanks for a year or so, so don't take this at the final word of an expert.
It is my understanding that when you "cycle" a tank the first thing that happens is your ammonia will spike. After a reasonable amount of time the ammonia will subside and the NITRITE will spike. After another reasonable amount of time your NITRATE will spike which is where your protein skimmer, filtration and water changes come into play. Did you add something that may have caused your "cycle" to start over? Something like "uncured" live rock?
Just a thought....

 

[cubuffs]

Thanks for the reply. You are very knowledgeable about the subject, but let me add some more information for you. I only added one lion fish, and that subsequently died. In addition, the live rock has been cured for many months now, and the tank has been established since May. With this additional info, is there anything else that any of you could think of that I could do?
Thanks!!!

 

[beth]

You just need to continue doing water changes. Do you have live sand? What are you using for substrate?
Why do you have nitrites?

 

[cubuffs]

Hi Beth,
I do have live sand in the tank. However, the curious thing is, I do water changes (approx 15%), every two weeks religiously. This is why I thought that it was odd to have such high nitrite levels when it seems that everything I am doing seems to be correct. Thanks again though!

 

[beth]

180 could probably use some more LR. When did you set the tank up? We are talking about nitrites, right, not trates?