nitrites stuck at 0.2 when cycling

dave48

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 18, 2023
Messages
29
Reaction score
14
Location
Shrewsbury
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Been cycling a new tank for 2 months now and my nitrites are stubbornly sticking at 0.2
I used a decaying prawn as ammonia source which has now disintrigated and have been dosing with liquid bacteria according to the instructions but cant get any further reduction in nitrites. any ideas?
with previous fish only tanks using dead prawn method I always got the nitrites back down to zero within a few weeks WITHOUT the use of additional, bacteria
 
OP
OP
D

dave48

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 18, 2023
Messages
29
Reaction score
14
Location
Shrewsbury
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Last time round (admittedly 10 years ago) the thinking was that you needed 0 nitrites before adding fish.
Is that no longer the case?
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

Reef Chemist
View Badges
Joined
Sep 5, 2014
Messages
66,527
Reaction score
62,817
Location
Arlington, Massachusetts, United States
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Last time round (admittedly 10 years ago) the thinking was that you needed 0 nitrites before adding fish.
Is that no longer the case?

Correct, that is no longer the case, IMO. Concerns about nitrite are an inappropriate carry over from freshwater, where it is toxic, to seawater where it is not.
 
OP
OP
D

dave48

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 18, 2023
Messages
29
Reaction score
14
Location
Shrewsbury
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thanks for the replies. I am currently plateau'd for the last month at ammonia 0.1, nitrites 0.2 and nitrates 5
to you reckon its safe to add a couple of clownfish?
 

Tamberav

7500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 4, 2014
Messages
9,550
Reaction score
14,629
Location
Wauwatosa, WI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Been cycling a new tank for 2 months now and my nitrites are stubbornly sticking at 0.2
I used a decaying prawn as ammonia source which has now disintrigated and have been dosing with liquid bacteria according to the instructions but cant get any further reduction in nitrites. any ideas?
with previous fish only tanks using dead prawn method I always got the nitrites back down to zero within a few weeks WITHOUT the use of additional, bacteria

Nitrites are not toxic in saltwater, just make sure ammonia is processed and you are good.
 

PeterEde

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 8, 2021
Messages
2,542
Reaction score
2,305
Location
Adelaide, South Australia
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Last time round (admittedly 10 years ago) the thinking was that you needed 0 nitrites before adding fish.
Is that no longer the case?
In a marine aquarium NO2, NO3 are not as big an issue as they are in a fresh water aquarium. They become an issue when placing corals in as many prefer low NO3.
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 64 36.8%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 59 33.9%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 14.4%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 26 14.9%
  • Other.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
Back
Top