Nitrites and Nitrates way too high

[Quttlefish]

Hello, we are new saltwater aquarium keepers (53 gallon) and for the past few weeks we have been cycling our tank. Everything was normal at first and the parameters stabilized pretty quickly when we added our live rock and sand, so we waited a bit and when things looked good we decided to add our first fish, snails and hermit crabs. We didn't add all the livestock all at once, and things seemed pretty okay until we added the fish: 2 neon gobies and 2 bangaii cardinals. Shortly after adding the fish, our nitrate and nitrite parameters started going up. We posted on this forum a week or so back for help when the Nitrates reached an alarming level of 30 but were told to simply wait it out. Now our Nitrites are at 5ppm and our Nitrates are at 90ppm. One of our hermit crabs has already died but the rest of the crew seems fine so far. Ammonia is at 0.25 oddly enough. We have been feeding regularly and doing weekly water changes of about 4 gallons, though since the nitrate and nitrite spike we have increased our changes. Today we will do a water change of 10 gallons, but how do we lower the nitrites and nitrates fast to prevent any more damage? We have a protein skimmer and lots of biofilters and we though we had a stable and cycled aquarium so we have no idea where this spike is coming from.

 

[01xp]

Up your water changes to 25% it'll come down. You added 4 fish at once you taxed the bio filter it'll catch up. Just keep the water changes coming

 

[Quttlefish]

Up your water changes to 25% it'll come down. You added 4 fish at once you taxed the bio filter it'll catch up. Just keep the water changes coming

thanks, we'll try that! We didn't add all 4 fish at once, we added them a week apart. The spike occurred after the last two fish

 

[Tiki Reef Joshua]

What testing kits are you using? Presence of nitrite will give false high nitrate on some kits. Also, it is difficult to think you have any nitrite if you are cycled. Are you sure you are testing right?

 

[Quttlefish]

We are using API test kits for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate

 

[K7BMG]

To me it sounds as if you were not cycled and added rock during or after the cycle?
As you stated we were cycling for a few weeks then added live rock and sand. This was not the right path.
But your here now so my best suguestion at this point.
Water change 25% daily untill you see the nitrate get to 10-20.
Then feed sparingly for at least a week.

The beneficial bacteria is on your rock and in your sand.
Water changes will not affect it.
Nitrate is in your water.

 

[Quttlefish]

To me it sounds as if you were not cycled and added rock during or after the cycle?
As you stated we were cycling for a few weeks then added live rock and sand. This was not the right path.
But your here now so my best suguestion at this point.
Water change 25% daily untill you see the nitrate get to 10-20.
Then feed sparingly for at least a week.

The beneficial bacteria is on your rock and in your sand.
Water changes will not affect it.
Nitrate is in your water.

Thank you! We'll try

 

[01xp]

You'll be alright just keep up the water changes I would do them Every other day as to not stress the fish

 

[Jen1978]

It does sound that your cycle may not have been complete. Also, you should really wait one month between additions of fish instead of one week. Keep the water changes coming and feeding to a mininum. I suggest dropping a few pieces of food at a time and make sure almost every single bit is eaten.

 

[Mr. Fishy Fish]

As I recall, this is how it works. Basically, you had X amount of bacteria in your tank before the addition of said fish. This X amount of beneficial bacteria (bio-load filter) can only handle Y amount of bio-load (or fish poop and excess food). Now you add your first fish then the Y amount of bio-load has increased while the X amount of beneficial bacteria is still the same. Okay now you wait one week and the Y amount of bacteria has increased but by a small amount; perhaps just enough to offset the additional bio-load from the previous weeks addition of fish. So now you have an equal amount of beneficial bacteria and bio-load. So when you add another fish a week later, not enough beneficial bacteria built in the tank to handle the additional bio-load. Now the tank has a greater bio-load than the beneficial bacteria can handle which leads to the excess of harmful chemicals (nitrates) within the body of water. If there is an excess amount of nitrates in the water the only thing you can do is feed less to decrease the bio-load and dilute the water with water changes until the colony of beneficial bacteria increases enough to handle the bio-load. I hope this helps you understand why this happened. I'm no expert or anything so if I'm wrong please correct me.

 

[Quttlefish]

As I recall, this is how it works. Basically, you had X amount of bacteria in your tank before the addition of said fish. This X amount of beneficial bacteria (bio-load filter) can only handle Y amount of bio-load (or fish poop and excess food). Now you add your first fish then the Y amount of bio-load has increased while the X amount of beneficial bacteria is still the same. Okay now you wait one week and the Y amount of bacteria has increased but by a small amount; perhaps just enough to offset the additional bio-load from the previous weeks addition of fish. So now you have an equal amount of beneficial bacteria and bio-load. So when you add another fish a week later, not enough beneficial bacteria built in the tank to handle the additional bio-load. Now the tank has a greater bio-load than the beneficial bacteria can handle which leads to the excess of harmful chemicals (nitrates) within the body of water. If there is an excess amount of nitrates in the water the only thing you can do is feed less to decrease the bio-load and dilute the water with water changes until the colony of beneficial bacteria increases enough to handle the bio-load. I hope this helps you understand why this happened. I'm no expert or anything so if I'm wrong please correct me.

Thank you so much for your reply! Based on the information I've gathered, this seems to be our issue. We'll keep up with the water changes and we're feeding less ^^

 

[Sebastiancrab]

Thank you so much for your reply! Based on the information I've gathered, this seems to be our issue. We'll keep up with the water changes and we're feeding less ^^

Hi there! I am surprised that no one has mentioned adding Seachem Prime to your water. Your LFS, Petco and Petsmart should all have it. It will help you get thru this. Adding Seachem Stability will also provide a boost of bacteria.

 

[IAReefer]

Nitrite and Ammonia need to read zero. Your Nitrate reading will not be accurate until Nitrite is zero. Nitrite and Ammonia are lethal to fish

 

[Quttlefish]

I am aware of that, that's why i asked for help on how we could lower the nitrites before any fish die. Our ammonia is at 0.25 which isn't perfect but certiantly better than expected with the nitrites and nitrates being so high

 

[mijan]

Nitrites are not lethal in a marine aquarium at least not at your levels. Nitrites are a concern for freshwater. Nitrites in your water will skew your Nitrate readings. I would not be worried that your Ammonia is at 0.25 as an API kit is known to give false readings.
You went to quickly adding fish. Should have done one fish to start then slowly increase over a matter of weeks. For now continue with your water changes and feed less.