My tank parameters are awesome, except my nitrites are 130. What do I do? I did a water change 2 days in a row. Got it to 60. Then today, doubled. I haven't been feeding much. Kept the light off all day. Suggestions?
Nitrites are high
- Thread starter Elira_6301
- Start date
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Kingsley_Reef
Valuable Member
Reduce feeding if applicable
Carbon dosing may be a option
Clean your filters more often
Carbon dosing may be a option
Clean your filters more often
OP
OP
Brand new canister filter 4 days old.
Uncle99
10K Club member
You mean nitrate? I’ve never measure nitrites.
And yes 130 is too high IMM for fish only.
2-3ppm nitrate for SPS dominant, maybe 10 for mixed.
Water changes fine to reduce.
OP
OP
No, it's the Nitrites. My nitrate is only 4. I use the Hannah Master Kit.
Red_Beard
I already did
Carbon dose, but this is most effective if you have a skimmer. Also if you have the phospate levels to support it. It does take some to be effective, not much but some. If you are running a canister, i would recommend either clean it once a week or more, or pull the filter part out and just run it with matrix or other bio media in it. My first tank i ran with a canister, and found the mechanical filtration to be more a problem than it was worth.
Uncle99
10K Club member
And your nitrites are 130ppm? Is that correct.
Didn’t know that was even possible unless something died big time or the bio filter is damaged in some way.
At 130ppm, everything should be dead. Very dead.
Something doesn’t make sense to me.
OP
OP
Its a fish in cycle. I used Fritz Turbo 9000. Nothing has died. All my other parameters are great. Do you think dosing Stability will help? This tank is 3 weeks old.
OP
OP
3 weeks
Red_Beard
I already did
How many fish you got? If that is the case, keep doing frequent water changes, it will level out in a month.
Uncle99
10K Club member
None of that makes sense.
130ppm nitrites is toxic to fish.
With 4ppm nitrates, the cycle is started.
In 3-5 days you would have easily cycled.
Testing error?
BryanM
7500 Club Member
I'd get a different test kit, or take water to an LFS to ask them to test. 130 is very high.
OP
OP
4 small clowns, 2 damsels, 1 blenny. 40 gallons.
OP
OP
I can retest.
Kingsley_Reef
Valuable Member
3 WEEKS AND YOU HAVE THAT MANY FISH
Slow down man what’s the rush
Slow down man what’s the rush
Red_Beard
I already did
Holy snap. You jumped in with both feet...
That is a ton of load right out of the gate in an uncycled tank. First, i would make sure 130 isnt a testing error, if it isnt, you can keep it all healthy but keep doing water changes. Like every 3rd day 5 gallons for a few weeks. After stuff balances out and you see no nitrite amd loads more nitrate you can slow down again.
That is a ton of load right out of the gate in an uncycled tank. First, i would make sure 130 isnt a testing error, if it isnt, you can keep it all healthy but keep doing water changes. Like every 3rd day 5 gallons for a few weeks. After stuff balances out and you see no nitrite amd loads more nitrate you can slow down again.
Kingsley_Reef
Valuable Member
Your problem is your over stocked for as young as your tank is your tank has not grown enough to handle your bioload
OP
OP
Im sorry, they are tiny. I'm new. Didn't mean to upset you. They are smaller than 1 inch.
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