Hi nitrite and nitrates ? Need help please
- Thread starter Phillthy
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Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
Looks like your cycling a tank. If so, it's normal to have high nitrite and high nitrate at the same time. The nitrite will drop and the nitrate will stay high till it drops. When that happens, you should be done cycling.
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
If your cycling, no. Let it finish. When there is no more nitrite, but only nitrate, you can do a water change.
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Phillthy
Active Member
Thanks much
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
Your welcome!
homer1475
Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
The presence of nitrites will throw off the measurement of nitrates. Just food for thought.
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Phillthy
Active Member
Dont hold back homer. I was hoping you would drop some knowledge on me. I need all the help i can get. How does the presence of nitrites effect the measurement? Higher or lower readings? What test kit do you guys use? Also im winning a diatom battle but want to be sure so im looking into cleanup crews. Sea urchins ..cucumbers ? Best snails.. Where do you guys purchase online? What do you think would be best for my small setup? Thanks much for the input.
homer1475
Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
When your cycling a tank, the presence of nitrites will show as really high nitrates.
For nitrates I like to use Red Sea Pro, although I have used NYOS and salifert in the past. All of those are much more reliable then API for the low numbers we try and maintain in a reef tank.
Diatoms are a natural part of setting up a reef tank(part of whats refereed to the "uglies"), and typically burn themselves out once they use up all the available silicates in your new sand.
As far as CUC, I rely on ceriths, nessarious(sp?), turban, and banded trochus snails, as well as a few scarlet hermits.
For nitrates I like to use Red Sea Pro, although I have used NYOS and salifert in the past. All of those are much more reliable then API for the low numbers we try and maintain in a reef tank.
Diatoms are a natural part of setting up a reef tank(part of whats refereed to the "uglies"), and typically burn themselves out once they use up all the available silicates in your new sand.
As far as CUC, I rely on ceriths, nessarious(sp?), turban, and banded trochus snails, as well as a few scarlet hermits.
post full tank shot picture of the reef showing the free nitrite, I have a neat use for this thread if its what Im expecting based on typed clues above
homer1475
Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
I know exactly where your going with this, and I would agree.
What @brandon429 is going to get at, Nitrites are not toxic in a reef like they are in FW. If you have 0 ammonia, and you can pass any ammonia in 24 hours, you can add a fish or 2(2 small).
and also was curious how much life and bioload is already thriving in the tank. I liked your interference test idea to explain the reading so far before pics, if there's life in there already doing fine that really speaks a lot about cycle progress/completion
Sharir
Active Member
Speaking from experience... It depends on whether you are cycling your tank with fish or doing a fish less cycle. If you are doing a fish - less cycle then just let the bacteria do it 's thing, the levels will come down as your biofilter matures(biofilter meaning bacterial population). If you're cycling with fish the do a large water change. This will slow down the process of cycling the tank but it will protect your fish from stress; ammonia burn and death. BTW: are you cycling your tank? I 'd love to hear about it.
Sharir
Active Member
Sharir
Active Member
I totally agree man.
Sharir
Active Member
@brandon429 :I salute you man, your reef vase inspired me so much. I wanted a reef vase ever since I was 12 when I first stumbled across it. HATS OFF TO YOU
;Snaphappy
;Snaphappy
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Phillthy
Active Member
Im putting in some community service tonhelp local church. As soon as i get home i will post. Heres a link to more about my setup. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/kinda-new-heres-my-simple-setup.703333/#post-7269386
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