LFS wont sell unless 0 nitrates

MindlessToxin · Dec 13, 2023

Hello all, I'm new to reefing and saltwater. I've been constantly researching, watching videos and reading up on the hobby for the last few months. I'm currently waiting on my 75 gallon to finish it's initial cycle. I'm doing Dr. Tim's fishless cycle and so far it's processing ammonia into nitrite/ nitrate. Still waiting on my nitrites to start coming down.

I was talking to the guy at my LFS and he knows I'm new and that I'm waiting on my cycle to finish before I get my first fish(pair of clowns). He told me I needed to bring a sample of water that is showing no nitrites, NO NITRATES and little to no ammonia. This is where I am super confused. I said okay so I need to do large(50%) water change to get rid of the nitrates and he said "no that will get rid of all the good bacteria". He then said that once the cycle is complete that the nitrates would come down.

Correct me I'm wrong but isn't water change the only way to get rid of nitrates at the point of being cycled?? Unless I have something that is consuming nitrates like Algae, Chaeto, Corals. I feel like either they are uneducated on the subject or I am.

If I am right it's a little frustrating for me that I have to bring a test showing 0 nitrates. Especially considering that's the cleanest LFS in town with the healthiest looking fish.

Cell · Dec 13, 2023

Makes no sense. Bring in a sample of RODI.

MindlessToxin · Dec 13, 2023

I can put a drop of ammonia chloride in the sample. LOL

Cell · Dec 13, 2023

Your tank is fine to start stocking slowly. Nitrites are not harmful to marine fish. All reefs need nitrate or corals starve and it promotes dino's. It's great your LFS cares about its livestock, but they are no saltwater experts.

jsargent1 · Dec 13, 2023

To me, it sounds like he’s a little confused lol
Zero ammonia and zero nitrites, but you’ll always have some nitrates, once the first two drop, the second one will two. As far as I know, nitrates don’t hurt fish, and is beneficial in most cases

Trixter227 · Dec 13, 2023

We need to start a LFS friday or somthing. The storys are always amusing.

brandon429 · Dec 13, 2023

how funny is old cycling science

this cycle is done, they want to oververify, but they won't tell the OP about quarantine and fallow from the diseased fish they sell at the pet store (all pet stores)

old cycling science is always fearful about bacteria when they shouldn't be, and 100% never concerned about disease which they for sure should be. your fallow and qt is the most important step, bottle bac makers got the cycle done for you as soon as you tipped the bottle into the tank. after a week's wait, those bacteria are stuck to the rocks...nobody has trouble carrying fish due to a cycle issue, it's disease that gets 'em in the end.

radreef02 · Dec 13, 2023

After my tank cycled , nitrates stayed 8+ and never came down. 6 months later and it’s still 8-15

Cell · Dec 13, 2023

You know what we generally tell people who have no measurable nitrate?

Feed more or dose nitrate.

Reefer_kano · Dec 13, 2023

Sounds like you need to go to a different LFS

ISpeakForTheSeas · Dec 13, 2023

MindlessToxin said:
He told me I needed to bring a sample of water that is showing no nitrites, NO NITRATES and little to no ammonia. This is where I am super confused. I said okay so I need to do large(50%) water change to get rid of the nitrates and he said "no that will get rid of all the good bacteria". He then said that once the cycle is complete that the nitrates would come down.

Correct me I'm wrong but isn't water change the only way to get rid of nitrates at the point of being cycled?? Unless I have something that is consuming nitrates like Algae, Chaeto, Corals. I feel like either they are uneducated on the subject or I am.

Yeah, your LFS is wrong here - I'd assume they confused Nitrites and Nitrates (though Nitrites aren't harmful in saltwater).

-Most of the nitrifying bacteria in a cycled tank is going to be benthic (growing on surfaces like the rocks) not pelagic (floating in the water column), so changing the water shouldn't remove the bacteria in any meaningful quantity.

-If nothing in the tank is consuming nitrate, then yeah, water changes would be the only way to lower the nitrate level in the tank.

Stevorino · Dec 13, 2023

I'd probably wait until your Nitrites hit zero and then go in with a sample and hope you get someone better to help. Very possible he may have misspoke.

Cell · Dec 13, 2023

They certainly didnt mispeak the part about "don't change water or you will lose all your good bacteria". That is pure nonsense. Hopefully that was just some new worker and not the owner or manager. I'd probably go back or call and try to speak to the manager/owner about these claims.

brandon429 · Dec 13, 2023

I cannot fault a lfs employee for not having the info that 20+ year online forum hacks have, but it's still fun to fault them pretty much.

brandon429 · Dec 13, 2023

Post this thread on their Facebook page for fun

Cell · Dec 13, 2023

Forum hacks aren't running a business. LFS should be held to higher regard and be a reliable source of up to date, accurate info or they should just sell fish and not dole out advice.