Nitrites stalled during cycle

[Kevin1996]

Hi!

So my new 63 gallon reef has been set up for a month as of yesterday. Used the fishless cycling method with dry sand and dry rock and all new media. Used Dr Tim’s bacteria and ammonia drops per instructions. I soon realized that I overdosed the tank with ammonia by mistake the first week as the instructions on the bottle read “Dose 4 drops per gallon”. However on the Dr Tim’s website, it says start with 1 drop per gallon. That is problematic.
Anyway, cut to a week later and ammonia is at 0. Using the infamous API test kit. Nitrites were reading 5.0 but eventually came down to 2.0. They have been stuck at 2.0 for weeks. I added an entire large bottle of fritzyme 9 and have been dosing Microbacter 7 daily per instructions. This is AFTER I performed a huge water change (80%) based on recommendations from my LFS and there is still no change. Yesterday, my LFS gave me about 8 gallons of water from their established display tank and sold me a nice sized (4 lb) piece of heavily seeded live rock, which was added in with the water from the store’s display tank yesterday. Nitrites are still reading 2.0. The nitrates are at 40 ppm (originally were at 160 ppm before the water change).
I am scratching my head at this one.
Any recommendations? My LFS thinks I’m good to go because they claim nitrites aren’t as toxic to saltwater fish as they are to freshwater but I’d rather make sure the cycle is complete and can handle the ammonia and nitrites as it should before adding any livestock.

 

[Fish Fan]

Well, in this case I agree with your LFS, nitrites are thought to be non toxic in marine aquaria. Short, non-technical answer it has to do with the interactions of Chloride ions in salt water. Here’s some real information from a member here who has been a chemist and a reef tank guru for decades now:

https://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.htm#:~:text=Its%20toxicity%20in%20marine%20systems,measuring%20in%20most%20marine%20systems.

Did your LFS test your water with something other than the API kits? If your concern is nitrites, I think you’re fine to to start slowly adding livestock.

I hope that helps, good luck!

 

[KrisReef]

API, stalls more bacteria’s in the test vial then in an aquarium.

What about NO3? How do you get to 160 if the bacteria won’t make NO2 into NO3?

The tank is cycled for ammonia consumption .

 

[KrisReef]

Test your Freshly made saltwater and see what you get for NO2 & NO3

Don’t buy additional bacteria. Get a fish.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

So this is all bacteria establishment to break down ammonia and nitrite to nitrate. Each a different kind.

First it's good you added fritz. But if you were doing doctor tms not necessary just may take a bit longer

Second, adding fritz allows for immediate addition without wait. No need to dose ammonia.

Correct, nitrite is that toxic. How ever what is your nitrates?

Water carries very little bacteria or anything beneficial to your tank. However, live rock does. You are more at risk of adding disease to your tank from the store tank water than anything beneficial. It may also have lower trace and other elements as well that may need to be raised or could be higher in something you may not want.

The fact you still have nitrites if correct, means you are still building the bacteria that feeds off it but should be good.

 

[Kevin1996]

Thanks everyone. The fish are now home and going through drip acclimation now. Here’s to hoping they do okay! I will update.