Cycling a quarantine tank

[Hilltopreef90]

I tried to do a quick set up by using 10 gallons of established tank water and 10 of new saltwater
I added a sponge I’d had sitting in the established tank and after a week I had no ammonia but a low level of nitrite, I began adding microbacter start and now my nitrite has skyrocketed but no ammonia, I’ve been adding the amount of microbacter start directed for 4-5 days and still super high nitrite and no ammonia.
Last night I added 40 drops of ammonia, the ammonia went up but is back to zero this morning. I’ve not checked my nitrite yet but will this afternoon.
If my nitrite is still high what should I do ? Why do I have such high nitrite and no ammonia?
it’s a quarantine tank so all that’s in the tank is a couple pieces of pvc an air bubbler and heater.
I removed the piece of sponge I’d added.
The microbacter start says to continue to add it daily until both nitrite and ammonia are zero or close to it
Should I keep adding the drops of ammonia or just wait and give it more time ?

 

[Galiant50]

If you don't have any biomedia in the tank (sand, rock, artificial media, etc) then what is the bacteria supposed to grow on? Cycling involves the bacteria reproducing and/or replicating, but if they don't have an area to do so then it won't have any effect.

 

[Hilltopreef90]

It’s a quarantine tank it’s not supposed to have rock or sand ‍

 

[Idech]

It’s a quarantine tank it’s not supposed to have rock or sand ‍

Why the female sign ?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I tried to do a quick set up by using 10 gallons of established tank water and 10 of new saltwater
I added a sponge I’d had sitting in the established tank and after a week I had no ammonia but a low level of nitrite, I began adding microbacter start and now my nitrite has skyrocketed but no ammonia, I’ve been adding the amount of microbacter start directed for 4-5 days and still super high nitrite and no ammonia.
Last night I added 40 drops of ammonia, the ammonia went up but is back to zero this morning. I’ve not checked my nitrite yet but will this afternoon.
If my nitrite is still high what should I do ? Why do I have such high nitrite and no ammonia?
it’s a quarantine tank so all that’s in the tank is a couple pieces of pvc an air bubbler and heater.
I removed the piece of sponge I’d added.
The microbacter start says to continue to add it daily until both nitrite and ammonia are zero or close to it
Should I keep adding the drops of ammonia or just wait and give it more time ?

Cycles often get blocked at the nitrite to nitrate stage. However, nitrite is non-toxic to marine fish, so you just need to ensure the tank can reduce 1.5 ppm of ammonia in 24 hours.
Jay

 

[Galiant50]

It’s a quarantine tank it’s not supposed to have rock or sand ‍

This is false. The reason quarantine tanks do not NORAMALLY have rock and sand is because they tend to hold onto the copper and medicine used in tanks. To counter the lack of bio media, the main source of ammonia export is from water changes. The need for cycling would be to eliminate daily (up to) 50% water changes, thus requiring bio media. If you aren't planning on reusing the rocks or sand from the quarantine tank and monitor copper levels after use... it won't be an issue.

 

[Galiant50]

Cycles often get blocked at the nitrite to nitrate stage. However, nitrite is non-toxic to marine fish, so you just need to ensure the tank can reduce 1.5 ppm of ammonia in 24 hours.
Jay

Also false... Nitrite is very toxic to fish. Please see the reference(s) below:

https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Reso...toxic to fish,if sufficient oxygen is present.

https://fishlab.com/nitrite/

Long story short: Nitrite reduces the ability for a fish to move oxygen through the bloodstream.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Also false... Nitrite is very toxic to fish. Please see the reference(s) below:

https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Recreation-and-Leisure/Aquarium-Fish/Aquarium-Water-Quality-Nitrogen-Cycle#:~:text=Nitrite is toxic to fish,if sufficient oxygen is present.

https://fishlab.com/nitrite/

Long story short: Nitrite reduces the ability for a fish to move oxygen through the bloodstream.

Sorry, that is not correct. Nitrite is highly toxic only to freshwater fish. The chloride ions in seawater completely negate the toxicity of NO2 for marine fish. 3 mg of chloride negate the toxicity of 1 mg NO2.

In EVERY case where you read that nitrite is toxic, they are either discussing freshwater fish or they don't understand the difference with marine fishes. Even spiking seawater with higher than possible nitrite levels does not even begin to show toxicity until a level of 100 ppm. In some species, Noga reports no toxicity at 1750 mg/l.

Jay

 

[Hilltopreef90]

This is false. The reason quarantine tanks do not NORAMALLY have rock and sand is because they tend to hold onto the copper and medicine used in tanks. To counter the lack of bio media, the main source of ammonia export is from water changes. The need for cycling would be to eliminate daily (up to) 50% water changes, thus requiring bio media. If you aren't planning on reusing the rocks or sand from the quarantine tank and monitor copper levels after use... it won't be an issue.

So if I add a few pieces of rubble rock that’ll do the trick ?

 

[Hilltopreef90]

Sorry, that is not correct. Nitrite is highly toxic only to freshwater fish. The chloride ions in seawater completely negate the toxicity of NO2 for marine fish. 3 mg of chloride negate the toxicity of 1 mg NO2.

In EVERY case where you read that nitrite is toxic, they are either discussing freshwater fish or they don't understand the difference with marine fishes. Even spiking seawater with higher than possible nitrite levels does not even begin to show toxicity until a level of 100 ppm. In some species, Noga reports no toxicity at 1750 mg/l.

Jay

I added 40 drops of ammonia and it was gone the next morning so it’s probably ok to add a fish ?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I added 40 drops of ammonia and it was gone the next morning so it’s probably ok to add a fish ?

Well, I don’t know the concentration of your ammonia solution. The standard rule is if you raise the ammonia level in a new tank to 1 or 1.5 ppm and it is completely gone in 24 hours, the tank is established enough to handle a light load of fish.
You can add the ammonia, let the tank circulate for a bit to mix it, then test. Test again in 24 hours to see if that much got assimilated .
Jay

 

[Hilltopreef90]

Well, I don’t know the concentration of your ammonia solution. The standard rule is if you raise the ammonia level in a new tank to 1 or 1.5 ppm and it is completely gone in 24 hours, the tank is established enough to handle a light load of fish.
You can add the ammonia, let the tank circulate for a bit to mix it, then test. Test again in 24 hours to see if that much got assimilated .
Jay

Thanks

 

[Galiant50]

So if I add a few pieces of rubble rock that’ll do the trick ?

If you are considering leaving this tank up for a while, I would just add sand and no rock. Sand offers a lot more surface area, is cheap and you still have the PVC and stuff to use for hiding places