Nitrites stuck 38 days in cycle

[jadedog]

Hi I’m 38 days into my cycled I used bottle ammonia and dosed up to 2ppm and I’ve been through 3 bottles of bottled bacteria. I’ve been processing ammonia fine but my nitrites are stuck I stopped dosing ammonia recently and did Mulitple 50% water changes. I used a Hannah checker and my nitrates for 27.8 before the water changes. But for the life of me I’m having a hard time sufficiently dropping nitrite which is stuck at 5ppm I have two clowns that I have quarantined for the last month ready to go is it possible to just do a large water change and put them in my display? I know nitrites aren’t super deadly in salt water but what would be my best course of action. Thanks

 

[jadedog]

Whats the ammonia level?
38 days is long for a cycle, and with nitrates at 28 it confirms that ammonia is being processed, this is a cycled tank IMO.

Ammonia level is 0ppm

 

[Fish Fan]

“Aren’t super deadly” is a huge understatement.

Pretend it doesn’t exist and carry on; it will go to 0 by itself in no time.

^This!

 

[jadedog]

^This!

So I’ll do a big water change tonight to lower them the most I can then I’ll add my clowns from qt. Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So I’ll do a big water change tonight to lower them the most I can then I’ll add my clowns from qt. Thanks

I would not bother with the water change, but it won’t hurt anything.

 

[KrisReef]

Let those Clownfish Go!

After 38 Days the tank's bacteria is ready for a million of them!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

5ppm is deadly to fish. Period.

Water changes and dosing bacteria worked for me

What fish? Freshwater, maybe, but it takes hundreds of ppm of nitrite to kill marine fish.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Based on what I've read here.


A Google search provided a chart, based on PH.

That’s misinformation. Nitrite is not toxic to marine fish at any level ever obtained in a reef tank, cycling or not.

The pH thing makes me think you or the AI are confusing ammonia with nitrite.

 

[MoeStachio]

Based on what I've read here.


A Google search provided a chart, based on PH.

That’s misinformation. Nitrite is not toxic to marine fish at any level ever obtained in a reef tank, cycling or not.

The pH thing makes me think you or the AI are confusing ammonia with nitrite.

Actually it wasn't AI, although it was an article on a freshwater, and I didn't catch that bit.

Thanks so much for the information!

 

[MoeStachio]

But... question


If nitrites aren't toxic to Marine Life

And their only real purpose is to feed bacteria and convert to Nitrate


Why do we wait until we hit 0 nitrite before adding fish?

I mean. If it doesn't matter...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

But... question


If nitrites aren't toxic to Marine Life

And their only real purpose is to feed bacteria and convert to Nitrate


Why do we wait until we hit 0 nitrite before adding fish?

I mean. If it doesn't matter...

I never recommend waiting until nitrite hits zero.

Concern about nitrite is a carry over from the freshwater hobby.

 

[MoeStachio]

But... question


If nitrites aren't toxic to Marine Life

And their only real purpose is to feed bacteria and convert to Nitrate


Why do we wait until we hit 0 nitrite before adding fish?

I mean. If it doesn't matter...

I never recommend waiting until nitrite hits zero.

Concern about nitrite is a carry over from the freshwater hobby.

Ahhhh ok. Thank you for your sage advice!

 

[KrisReef]

Ahhhh ok. Thank you for your sage advice!

I don't think Randy smokes the sage, but he does smoke the Chemistry questions and provides the best answers and clarifications for the board, imo/ ime.

 

[twentyleagues]

Couple things here, You can not reliably test nitrates with nitrite present. Its already been said by way better than me but nitrite is not toxic in saltwater at least at levels we would/could achieve. You need phosphates for the bacteria to covert nitrite into nitrate. Sprinkle some reef roids in and watch the nitrites start to come down. I dont think its organic carbon that these bacteria need I am pretty sure. I have had this discussion with @Lasse maybe he'll chime in on this, I'm just a hobbyist that found something weird to me when I got back in.

 

[jadedog]

Couple things here, You can not reliably test nitrates with nitrite present. Its already been said by way better than me but nitrite is not toxic in saltwater at least at levels we would/could achieve. You need phosphates for the bacteria to covert nitrite into nitrate. Sprinkle some reef roids in and watch the nitrites start to come down. I dont think its organic carbon that these bacteria need I am pretty sure. I have had this discussion with @Lasse maybe he'll chime in on this, I'm just a hobbyist that found something weird to me when I got back in.

I’ll look into this thank you.

 

[kboogie]

I don’t have them backwards I’ve been actively testing both. I test nitrites with a API test kit and I test nitrate with a Hannah checker. Thanks for the heads up tho about the results getting messed up because of nitrites

I was commenting on a statement about another user.

 

[Lasse]

Couple things here, You can not reliably test nitrates with nitrite present. Its already been said by way better than me but nitrite is not toxic in saltwater at least at levels we would/could achieve. You need phosphates for the bacteria to covert nitrite into nitrate. Sprinkle some reef roids in and watch the nitrites start to come down. I dont think its organic carbon that these bacteria need I am pretty sure. I have had this discussion with @Lasse maybe he'll chime in on this, I'm just a hobbyist that found something weird to me when I got back in.

Adding PO4 (Reef Roids is high in this) can help if the second step stucks - IME

Sincerely Lasse

 

[gatorbait41682]

Hi I’m 38 days into my cycled I used bottle ammonia and dosed up to 2ppm and I’ve been through 3 bottles of bottled bacteria. I’ve been processing ammonia fine but my nitrites are stuck I stopped dosing ammonia recently and did Mulitple 50% water changes. I used a Hannah checker and my nitrates for 27.8 before the water changes. But for the life of me I’m having a hard time sufficiently dropping nitrite which is stuck at 5ppm I have two clowns that I have quarantined for the last month ready to go is it possible to just do a large water change and put them in my display? I know nitrites aren’t super deadly in salt water but what would be my best course of action. Thanks

My tank is newer as well and my ammonia is staying at 0 but I am in the same boat as you. My nitrites are staying at 0.25ppm no matter what I do. I’m assuming that my tank is still cycling bc my nitrates are at 0 as well. My fish seem to be doing fine but I’ve been worried that it may cause them to get sick. Any thoughts?

 

[jadedog]

My tank is newer as well and my ammonia is staying at 0 but I am in the same boat as you. My nitrites are staying at 0.25ppm no matter what I do. I’m assuming that my tank is still cycling bc my nitrates are at 0 as well. My fish seem to be doing fine but I’ve been worried that it may cause them to get sick. Any thoughts?

Your fish will be completely fine my suggestion is to completely stop testing nitrite. Nitrite is not deadly to marine fish at the levels a aquarium can reach. I was just like you and I put my fish in 5+ppm Nitrite and they were completely fine and nitrite dropped to 0 shortly after. Stop worrying your all good!!

 

[Should I]

5ppm is deadly to fish. Period.

Water changes and dosing bacteria worked for me

ur thinking of fresh water pal

 

[gatorbait41682]

My tank is newer as well and my ammonia is staying at 0 but I am in the same boat as you. My nitrites are staying at 0.25ppm no matter what I do. I’m assuming that my tank is still cycling bc my nitrates are at 0 as well. My fish seem to be doing fine but I’ve been worried that it may cause them to get sick. Any thoughts?

Your fish will be completely fine my suggestion is to completely stop testing nitrite. Nitrite is not deadly to marine fish at the levels a aquarium can reach. I was just like you and I put my fish in 5+ppm Nitrite and they were completely fine and nitrite dropped to 0 shortly after. Stop worrying your all good!!

Thank you! I appreciate the feedback.