Parameters are odd, help please!

[tidequeen09]

Hey everyone, added my 2 clowns 10 days ago.

Tank was fully cycled on July 3, added the clowns July 14.

The LFS clerk gave me Aquaforest Bio S and told me to use that every second day (1 drop for my 10 gallon) to help establish my tank better and clear up my bacteria bloom (the bloom is gone since adding aquaforest bio S) and use it until the bottle was done.

I did a quick parameters test this morning using API saltwater master test kit and I have 0 ammonia, low nitrites and normal looking nitrates. But should my nitrites be 0 or no?

Started off with macro dry rock, dry sand and the tank has been up since Feb 2025.

I have included the pictures of the test results below

Thanks

 

[TwelveL16]

did you ever add an ammonia source from Feb to July?

 

[Jekyl]

Once the tank is cycled you never need to test nitrite again.

 

[Uncle99]

That test kit not so accurate.
Zero ammonia and some nitrate is the key.

 

[tidequeen09]

did you ever add an ammonia source from Feb to July?

I had added Dr.Tim's ammonia chloride yes. The. I stopped around adding ammonia about a month ago roughly.

 

[tidequeen09]

Once the tank is cycled you never need to test nitrite again.

For real? I heard that nitrite isn't even that bad for marine (saltwater) fish as well, is that true?

 

[tidequeen09]

That test kit not so accurate.
Zero ammonia and some nitrate is the key.

Ok but why do I have a low level of nitrite?

 

[Jekyl]

For real? I heard that nitrite isn't even that bad for marine (saltwater) fish as well, is that true?

Yes.

 

[Jekyl]

Ok but why do I have a low level of nitrite?

The API tests you have are misleading. They are known for picking up some nitrite and some ammonia.

 

[TwelveL16]

I had added Dr.Tim's ammonia chloride yes. The. I stopped around adding ammonia about a month ago roughly.

not familiar with that. .25 Nitrites isnt going to be toxic to fish. Id keep an eye on your ammonia just incase for some reason you are seeing a mini cycle from adding life and feeding. Bacteria adjusts fast though, so I would not worry and I would think youll be fine.

 

[tidequeen09]

I had added Dr.Tim's ammonia chloride yes. The. I stopped around adding ammonia about a month ago roughly.

not familiar with that. .25 Nitrites isnt going to be toxic to fish. Id keep an eye on your ammonia just incase for some reason you are seeing a mini cycle from adding life and feeding. Bacteria adjusts fast though, so I would not worry and I would think youll be fine.

Because I have .25 nitrites should I do a water change in a few days? If so how much percentage you think?

 

[TwelveL16]

Nope. No need.

 

[tidequeen09]

Nope. No need.

Well I mean my at what point should I do a water change when my nitrates are at what ppm? I was told because it is a 10 gallon that weekly is recommended.

If so what percentage should I do?

 

[TwelveL16]

Well I mean my at what point should I do a water change when my nitrates are at what ppm? I was told because it is a 10 gallon that weekly is recommended.

If so what percentage should I do?

Nitrates aren't the end of the world. Mine have been sky high before and fish were unbothered. Doing a water change isnt going to hurt anything though. It depends on what your livestock is. If you are just doing fish then Id just do one once a month or every other, Id just keep them below 40. If you are planning on corals, Id keep them around 5-10, so i'd probably do a 20% water change when your nitrates are showing 10-15. Best advice would just be to keep an eye on them and keep your tank stable and consistent. Problems show their face a lot quicker in smaller tanks.

 

[KrisReef]

Ok but why do I have a low level of nitrite?

The nitrate & nitrite in the water confound the resolving between the two of them without a better test kit. The low levels your kit is detecting, and confounding are not a concern, as were mentioned earlier.

Nitrite in saltwater is not toxic to marine fishes in these low (normal) concentrations the fishes don't even notice them (Reportedly- )

 

[Jekyl]

Because I have .25 nitrites should I do a water change in a few days? If so how much percentage you think?

Better off throwing the nitrite test away.

 

[tidequeen09]

Ok but why do I have a low level of nitrite?

The nitrate & nitrite in the water confound the resolving between the two of them without a better test kit. The low levels your kit is detecting, and confounding are not a concern, as were mentioned earlier.

Nitrite in saltwater is not toxic to marine fishes in these low (normal) concentrations the fishes don't even notice them (Reportedly- )

Hmm would you suggest getting another brand of nitrite test just to see if the nitrite is actually there?

 

[Jekyl]

Hmm would you suggest getting another brand of nitrite test just to see if the nitrite is actually there?

No need to.

 

[mpatterson42]

The presence of nitrite isn't a big deal, however, nitrite in your system will cause nitrates to read higher on any test kit. I do agree with most of the others in this thread, you can stop testing ammonia and nitrite but I would look into a different test kit for nitrate (Hanna is probably the best home test kit, but Salifert is well regarded (although I have trouble with the colors).

 

[tidequeen09]

The presence of nitrite isn't a big deal, however, nitrite in your system will cause nitrates to read higher on any test kit. I do agree with most of the others in this thread, you can stop testing ammonia and nitrite but I would look into a different test kit for nitrate (Hanna is probably the best home test kit, but Salifert is well regarded (although I have trouble with the colors).

Even though my tank is cycled fully, im assuming I might have nitrites because I added the clowns, so almost a mini cycle I guess? That should fix itself? Sorry for repeating myself just still new to saltwater and just want to make sure my fish are safe and healthy