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

 

[Miami Reef]

“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.

 

[MoeStachio]

5ppm is deadly to fish. Period.

Water changes and dosing bacteria worked for me

 

[MikeReefs]

I would add more ammonia and see if the bacteria consumes it to nitrate. I don’t think your finished yet if nitrite is still heavily detectable. What bacteria are you using? I used multiple bacteria’s when cycling my Marco rock

 

[Miami Reef]

5ppm is deadly to fish. Period.

Interesting. What makes you so sure about that?

I’ll pull up some research studies and evidence in a bit.

Freshwater and saltwater differ significantly in terms of nitrite toxicity; saltwater is completely devoid at any achievable level.

 

[MoeStachio]

Based on what I've read here.


A Google search provided a chart, based on PH.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

What are you using to test nitrite? If you have nitrate and no ammonia, I’m going to assume this is a testing error.

 

[PharmrJohn]

What are you using to test nitrite? If you have nitrate and no ammonia, I’m going to assume this is a testing error.

You beat me to it by about 5 seconds!

 

[RajM]

Very high nitrites will stall cycling.
The instructions say to add more ammonia if it falls below 0.25 but IME causes issues with nitrite cycle.
The better way I think is to let a full cycle complete and then add more ammonia until your tank can process 2ppm ammonia in 24 hours.

 

[ScottJ]

Search 'Nitrite Toxicity' in the forum search. This will be in the first result.

Nitrite and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[ScottJ]

Of course, you can't follow the link I just posted for some reason...

 

[ScottJ]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.htm

Fixed

 

[jadedog]

What are you using to test nitrite? If you have nitrate and no ammonia, I’m going to assume this is a testing error.

I’m testing nitrite with API I just stopped dosing ammonia 3 days ago in hope of dropping nitrite. I tested nitrate with a Hannah checker about a week ago before I did water changes and it was at 27ppm. I checked nitrate last night and I was 8.7ppm

 

[jadedog]

I would add more ammonia and see if the bacteria consumes it to nitrate. I don’t think your finished yet if nitrite is still heavily detectable. What bacteria are you using? I used multiple bacteria’s when cycling my Marco

I used two bottles of microbacter start xlm and 1 bottle of quick start API. Wouldn’t dosing more ammonia increase nitrites even more?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

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.

 

[kboogie]

What are you using to test nitrite? If you have nitrate and no ammonia, I’m going to assume this is a testing error.

Is it possible you have the nitrite and nitrate parts of this backwards?

I’m aware of nitrite causing false positive result for nitrate tests. I’m not aware of it being the other way around.

In general testing nitrate when nitrite is present is a bit of a waste because the nitrite will be picked up by the nitrate test. I guess it might be possible to do the conversion and estimate how much of the result of nitrate test is caused by the presence of nitrite but I don’t know the math.

 

[MikeReefs]

I’ve cycled many tanks using API. People are gonna say it’s the test kit. When using API you must shake it vigorously and wait a couple minutes to see the result. If all ammonia is being consumed within 24hours I wouldn’t stress it.

 

[ScottJ]

Rock, heat, flow, 3 bottles bac, 38 days, ready for life.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

What are you using to test nitrite? If you have nitrate and no ammonia, I’m going to assume this is a testing error.

I’m testing nitrite with API I just stopped dosing ammonia 3 days ago in hope of dropping nitrite. I tested nitrate with a Hannah checker about a week ago before I did water changes and it was at 27ppm. I checked nitrate last night and I was 8.7ppm

Those are good numbers. API is not a very accurate test. You want your nutrients (nitrate & phos) a bit elevated. You’re most likely going to get some ugly phases that will consume most of your nutrients and you don’t want those nutrients to bottom out. 10-15N would be good for you I suggest no more waterchanges

 

[jadedog]

Is it possible you have the nitrite and nitrate parts of this backwards?

I’m aware of nitrite causing false positive result for nitrate tests. I’m not aware of it being the other way around.

In general testing nitrate when nitrite is present is a bit of a waste because the nitrite will be picked up by the nitrate test. I guess it might be possible to do the conversion and estimate how much of the result of nitrate test is caused by the presence of nitrite but I don’t know the math.

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