help needed noob in help

[mrsalnj]

Ok so i went to my lfs to test my water to see if my tank is cycled, its going on 2 months now since i been letting the tank cycle. My lfs tested my water and everything was good except my nitrates it was reading 0.5ppm, They told me my tank wasn't cycled and they weren't selling me a snail or 2 lol..What does this mean? i thought it wasn't bad if it is 5ppm.Please Help

 

[rayn]

Nitrates or nitrites? Nitrites are good for the fishes, but nitrates in that range are fine.

 

[mrsalnj]

it is nitrates thats 0.5ppm everything else is good, they didn't want to sell me anything because they said my tank isn't cycled and to throw food in there to see if the ammonia spikes, and to stop doing water changes. Im so confused now

 

[skiergd011013]

I dont understand the first reply you got. Nitrites are NOT good for your tank. That is the second step in the nitrogen cycle, and only slightly less toxic than ammonia. Nitrates are the final step, and only toxic in high amounts. A reading of 0.5 ppm is acceptable, and i would have no issue with adding one starter, hardy fish. Keep an eye on the levels, do a weekly partial water change, you'll be fine.

 

[mrsalnj]

I dont understand the first reply you got. Nitrites are NOT good for your tank. That is the second step in the nitrogen cycle, and only slightly less toxic than ammonia. Nitrates are the final step, and only toxic in high amounts. A reading of 0.5 ppm is acceptable, and i would have no issue with adding one starter, hardy fish. Keep an eye on the levels, do a weekly partial water change, you'll be fine.

I thought i was good till my lfs told me this, then i was confused, i was doing water changes every week faithfully about 10%, topping off the sump with rodi when water evaporates and been testing my water every other day, so i have no clue why they didn't want to sell me a fish or even a snail. I went home scratching my head like what just happened, so i should just continue doing what i was doing and ignore my local lfs? and on top of that i have life in my tank such as brittle starfish and copepods which was fortunate hitch hikers from my live rock

 

[skiergd011013]

I thought i was good till my lfs told me this, then i was confused, i was doing water changes every week faithfully about 10%, topping off the sump with rodi when water evaporates and been testing my water every other day, so i have no clue why they didn't want to sell me a fish or even a snail. I went home scratching my head like what just happened, so i should just continue doing what i was doing and ignore my local lfs?

i dont know your setup/tank. But if its been running for 2 months, and you have a small amount of nitrates which indicates it is indeed cycled, then you are ready to add your first fish, and some hermits and snails for sure. Keep doing your waterchanges, and if in 2 weeks or so if everything is well, add another fish. The key is to just go slowly. If the store doesnt want to sell you anything, go to another store...

 

[cmcoker]

Nitrites are only toxic in fresh water so they really don't matter as far as toxicity.

The lfs probably thinks your nitrates are too low for the tank to have been cycled properly, many people have nitrates very high after the cycle.

I would do what they suggest, throw some fish food in every couple days for the next week and take back some water next weekend. No water changes in the meantime. If there's no ammonia, you can get a few snails.

Remember this hobby is about patience, and it sounds like they are trying to help you succeed.

Happy reefing.

 

[mrsalnj]

i dont know your setup/tank. But if its been running for 2 months, and you have a small amount of nitrates which indicates it is indeed cycled, then you are ready to add your first fish, and some hermits and snails for sure. Keep doing your waterchanges, and if in 2 weeks or so if everything is well, add another fish. The key is to just go slowly. If the store doesnt want to sell you anything, go to another store...

thank you for the advice and its a 40 gallon breeder with a 29 gallon sump, live sand and 40 lbs of live rock , forgot to mention i also have pineapple sponges growing all over the place which i read its beneficial

 

[redfishbluefish]

First off, stop doing water changes....they are not necessary with nitrates so low.

The mere presence of nitrate does not necessarily mean you've cycled....it could be leaching from the rock.

Did you introduce an ammonia source? .....Such as a table shrimp, or ammonia? The "feeding" suggestion above is another way to introduce decay (ammonia).

 

[mrsalnj]

First off, stop doing water changes....they are not necessary with nitrates so low.

The mere presence of nitrate does not necessarily mean you've cycled....it could be leaching from the rock.

Did you introduce an ammonia source? .....Such as a table shrimp, or ammonia?

no i put in bio spira and let it cycle, today i ghost fed the tank for the first time since my lfs said too

 

[redfishbluefish]

Bio Spira is the kick-starter bacteria....but they still need ammonia. Need to add the ammonia source. A rotting shrimp usually does the trick.


The other suggestion would be to introduce actual ammonia and test for the presence....and test the following day to see if it's gone.....and nitrite/nitrate is climbing.

 

[flsalty]

no i put in bio spira and let it cycle, today i ghost fed the tank for the first time since my lfs said too

Well I was going to say to find a new LFS until I read this. It is doubtful your tank cycled if you didn't add an ammonia source. Do you do any testing yourself? You said you let it cycle. That means having an ammonia spike and watching it go down over a period of time. It doesn't sound like you did that. Adding that bacteria is good, but it needs something to feed on in order to colonize.

 

[mrsalnj]

Well I was going to say to find a new LFS until I read this. It is doubtful your tank cycled if you didn't add an ammonia source. Do you do any testing yourself? You said you let it cycle. That means having an ammonia spike and watching it go down over a period of time. It doesn't sound like you did that. Adding that bacteria is good, but it needs something to feed on in order to colonize.

I do test my own water as well my ammonia never spiked high the highest it went was 0.25ppm then to 0 and my nitrate was at 0.10ppm at one point now it been at 0.5ppm

 

[rayn]

Wow, I must apologize! Nitrites are not good for fish. Sorry for my first post if I mislead you in any way. There definitely should have been a NOT in there.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Wow, I must apologize! Nitrites are not good for fish. Sorry for my first post if I mislead you in any way. There definitely should have been a NOT in there.

Actually for saltwater, nitrites are of no concern, short of watching your cycle go from ammonia -> nitrite -> nitrate. Levels of nitrite would (should) never ever get to a level to be detrimental to your fish. Now freshwater is a whole nother story!