Nitrite not dropping

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok 10-4…

Nitrite high but no ammonia =
Marine tank cycled/safe for saltwater fish…

but is this also safe for starting/adding coral?

Yes.

 

[mpatterson42]

If your ammonia spiked then dropped to 0 but your nitrites spiked and never dropped to 0 how do you accurately measure nitrate? My understanding is the presence of nitrites will give false nitrate readings.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If your ammonia spiked then dropped to 0 but your nitrites spiked and never dropped to 0 how do you accurately measure nitrate? My understanding is the presence of nitrites will give false nitrate readings.

Tropic Marin has a correction table. Otherwise, you may just have to wait.

But in reality, nitrate is not a concern early on. It cannot get too high during any normal cycling. Live rock curing, maybe, dry rock cycling, no.