Nitrites through roof

[retriever’s reef 80]

I’ve been cycling my 65 gallon AIO for over 3 weeks. Added ammonia chloride drops per directions and live nitrifying bacteria. Within a week or so the ammonia levels were decreasing steadily nitrites were high at approx 5.0. Nitrates also increases and then decreased. I ghost fed a tiny bit. Later on the ammonia went up a little and then back to zero. Nitrites stayed the same and nitrates increased again. I believe the tank is doing what it’s supposed to do as the three major components are fluctuating. The ph has consistently been 8.0 or a little higher. Alkalinity was good. I guess I’m just lost at why the nitrites remain pinned at the 5.0 mark and never come down. Just did a 40% water change to make sure and see what happens. What should I be doing differently? Or should I just call it good?

 

[reefingtom69]

If you have high Nitrites your cycle could have been interrupted or your ammonia was very high. I would check it again next couple days. Also, perhaps test it with another test kit.

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[Tahoe61]

Hi and Welcome to R2R.

Sounds like you're right on track. Nitrites are non toxic in marine systems.

 

[Uncle99]

I’m usually 25-30 nitrates in the first weeks of a new system. I’m not what yours are. Nitrites I don’t measure if I have nitrates.

What is through the roof?

Water changes will lower nutrient levels.

Forget PH….its just an annoying parameter and is not any factor in 99.9% of most reef tank settings….

Use water changes to keep nitrates level, week over week. 5-10ppm is a good target.

 

[exnisstech]

I'm an oddball and don't test ammonia or nitrite when I cycle. My thinking which is probably flawed but has worked fine for me is to slowly move forward when I see nitrate. I know nitrite can cause abnormally high nitrate readings but I doubt care. I figure if I'm seeing nitrate ammonia is being processed. I don't know exactly how many tanks I have cycled this way but I currently have 5 running and I've never had a problem just move along slowly adding livestock once nitrate is present. I like to add coral before fish because I think it helps add some biodiversity but I have coral to move in and don't have to purchase them.
The biggest headstart I get is using some live rock. I'll no longer start a tank without some. I can insta cycle a tank using live rock. I restarted my IM20 Friday and plan on adding tester corals today.

 

[MattyFishes]

Nitrites will eventually come down. Could take well over a month as the ammonia to nitrites process is much quicker than nitrite to nitrate.

A couple things though. Your pH, Alk, and nitrates don’t matter right now. You won’t have accurate nitrate readings if you have nitrites. You should only care that ammonia to dropping from 2ppm to 0 in 24 hours and converting to nitrites. Once that occurs, you can add fish. Nitrite has to be 150ppm+ to affect marine fish. Test two weeks after the first fish to see if nitrites are gone. Then check nitrates and adjust via water change. Don’t do a water change until then.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’ve been cycling my 65 gallon AIO for over 3 weeks. Added ammonia chloride drops per directions and live nitrifying bacteria. Within a week or so the ammonia levels were decreasing steadily nitrites were high at approx 5.0. Nitrates also increases and then decreased. I ghost fed a tiny bit. Later on the ammonia went up a little and then back to zero. Nitrites stayed the same and nitrates increased again. I believe the tank is doing what it’s supposed to do as the three major components are fluctuating. The ph has consistently been 8.0 or a little higher. Alkalinity was good. I guess I’m just lost at why the nitrites remain pinned at the 5.0 mark and never come down. Just did a 40% water change to make sure and see what happens. What should I be doing differently? Or should I just call it good?

I think there is some test issue. What are the units of your nitrite kit?

There’s no nitrate test kit that will read nitrate lower than the actual nitrite level, and many will read a little nitrite as a ton of nitrate.