My tank is set up incorrectly

[Fish Fan]

Guys, nitrite is non-toxic and of no concern in a reef tank, and most here at R2R don't bother testing for it at all. Check out RHF's article on nitrite toxicity here:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nitrite-toxicity.402708/post-4805029
You do want at least testable amounts of nitrate and phosphate though

I hope that helps!

 

[ZC aquatics]

You want the nitrate at 0

I think you mean nitrite

Yes typo lol

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

You want the nitrate at 0

Not unless you want the corals to starve

 

[MikeyZo]

Guys, nitrite is non-toxic and of no concern in a reef tank, and most here at R2R don't bother testing for it at all. Check out RHF's article on nitrite toxicity here:

You do want at least testable amounts of nitrate and phosphate though

I hope that helps!

Agreed, but the presence of it in a young understocked tank may be indicative of some ammonia spike present. That’s my point

 

[Fish Fan]

Agreed, but the presence of it in a young understocked tank may be indicative of some ammonia spike present. That’s my point

I get what you're concerned with, and it's not unreasonable, but low-levels of ammonia are not a concern either. Many dose ammonia in their tanks because coral can uptake ammonia directly and to prevent nitrate from bottoming out:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/
And quite likely, this a test kit error anyway

 

[ZC aquatics]

Guys, nitrite is non-toxic and of no concern in a reef tank, and most here at R2R don't bother testing for it at all. Check out RHF's article on nitrite toxicity here:

You do want at least testable amounts of nitrate and phosphate though

I hope that helps!

Agreed, but the presence of it in a young understocked tank may be indicative of some ammonia spike present. That’s my point

Exactly that happened to me

 

[Fish Fan]

Exactly that happened to me

What happened to you?

 

[ZC aquatics]

Ammonia spike in a newer tank started a die off gradually also It might if there not using RODI water

 

[ZC aquatics]

I think I quoted the wrong comment lol

 

[ZC aquatics]

Guys, nitrite is non-toxic and of no concern in a reef tank, and most here at R2R don't bother testing for it at all. Check out RHF's article on nitrite toxicity here:

You do want at least testable amounts of nitrate and phosphate though

I hope that helps!

Agreed, but the presence of it in a young understocked tank may be indicative of some ammonia spike present. That’s my point

This is the one

 

[Fish Fan]

Ammonia spike in a newer tank started a die off gradually also It might if there not using RODI water

Guys, this is not a new tank. The OP stated that things die "every month", which in itself is a problem, but this isn't a new tank, and the ammonia has to spike very, very high to cause any issues.

 

[Fish Fan]

More on ammonia from RHF here:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ammonia-is-our-friend-2-article-outline.1069937/
From that link he writes:
"Toxic levels of ammonia are just not reached in typical operating reef aquaria. Seeing a measured value of 0.25 ppm, whether real or test error, is not a concern. It may be a benefit."

 

[MikeyZo]

The OP said the tank is 5 months old. That’s relatively new, especially if things are dying every month

 

[Fish Fan]

The OP said the tank is 5 months old. That’s relatively new, especially if things are dying every month

No argument here, I just don't think that high ammonia or nitrite is causing what's going on here. The nitrite the OP is seeing is almost certainly test kit error, and definitely not anything to worry about. Most here at R2R don't even own a nitrite test kit. Ammonia has to be very, very high to cause anything to die from high ammonia, though at lower levels it can be harmful, I agree. But a reading of like 0.25 ppm ammonia would not concern me, and again, would offer a direct benefit to corals specifically.

 

[MikeyZo]

@Fish Fan
Could be adding to another underlying issue. In think there’s more going on than just one specific thing. Could be a few small problems snowballing on each other

 

[Fish Fan]

@Fish Fan
Could be adding to another underlying issue. In think there’s more going on than just one specific thing. Could be a few small problems snowballing on each other

I would agree with that for sure!

 

[MikeyZo]

I’m still waiting for what the OP is using to test salinity and how is being calibrated

 

[ZC aquatics]

Yes but ammonia is best at zero

 

[ZC aquatics]

This guy needs to tell us more details

 

[ZC aquatics]

It could also be a nutrient imbalance leading to toxic algae growth