I found the reason for my stubborn nitrates!

[thatmanMIKEson]

Well,

I tested my nitrates this morning, and it’s back at 12.5ppm.

There are too many variables to make any assumptions. I wish I had retested it yesterday to ensure it wasn’t just a testing error that gave me a lower reading.

Those 12 nitrates wouldn't be from one of those 500 fish would it, lol

 

[Miami Reef]

This thread needs actual nitrite tests - not from a spin disk.
API is great. Any other is fine too.

I will try to pick up API today.

 

[Miami Reef]

Those 12 nitrates wouldn't be from one of those 500 fish would it, lol

Possibly, but I really don‘t see how. I only feed twice a day and I have a very large skimmer + 100 micron socks changed 2x/week + weekly water changes + lots of carbon dosing.

My phosphates don't rise nearly as fast as nitrates.

 

[Miami Reef]

PetSmart didn’t have the nitrite test. I’ll try to stop by the LFS to get a bottle.

For now I will test my nitrates again to see if there is any change from this morning’s result.

 

[KrisReef]

The thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-importance-of-nitrite-measurements-in-a-reef-aquarium.754714/

I´ll come back later on in that thread with rather new experiences of a super stalled system - it needs to be resolved first though

Sincerely Lasse

Lasse.
Does the term "Cliff Hanger" translate?
Happy Holidays probably does, so I'll just leave it right there.
Kris

 

[Miami Reef]

PetSmart didn’t have the nitrite test. I’ll try to stop by the LFS to get a bottle.

For now I will test my nitrates again to see if there is any change from this morning’s result.

So a 2.5 decrease from this morning. I think this is the accuracy of the test kit, but I was never around 10ppm before.

As you can see from this graph, I test my nitrates A LOT! The reason is because I am stunned every time as to why they won’t drop!

Seems like 10.1ppm is the lowest reading I got since October.

I will pick up a nitrite test. I am about to do a water change.

So far I have no clue. I would like to believe my nitrates are low, but nitrites are making them appear high - that would make me happy.

 

[Miami Reef]

Oof, here’s the graph. The large dip was after dosing the bacteria yesterday. I don’t believe my nitrates are this unstable. I think it’s just fuzziness from the test kits.

 

[KrisReef]

Did you do a water change on Thanksgiving?

Edit 53% WC?

2nd edit, Never mind. I reread the addition comment. The mystery remains, perhaps even more cloudy now.

 

[Lasse]

Is there a law that sais you're nitrite hasn't peaked again?

No - in instable circumstances it can vary. I use Hanna ULR marine nitrite checker. It gives you a number. But I`m normal looking for trends. therefore I normally do not take any single readings for sure. In a well working high loaded system - like a fish farm - NO2 often start to rise 0-5-1 hour after first daily feeding - but you probably can´t se this in a reef. In a mature system NH4 would probably be highest just before the lights going on - hence test of NO2 may be best around a 0.5 to 1 hour after light going on

Lasse.
Does the term "Cliff Hanger" translate?
Happy Holidays probably does, so I'll just leave it right there.
Kris

Yes - we all remember the iconic movie Cliffhanger Yes we use the same word for the same thing here.

We do not use happy Christmas or happy holidays here - just God Jul. Jul means probably holiday and is probably a pre christian name on a celebration taken place at the same time in the year as Jesus birth. Jul is typical for the Nordic languages - including Finnish that´s not a german language. God means not the same as it do in English - it means good or happy. Our word for your God is Gud but it is a general word and not exclusive for the christian God

Sincerely Lasse

 

[chipchipbro]

you are chasing numbers brother, aint you?

 

[JMetaxas]

There’s nothing wrong with 11-12ppm Nitrate. That’s my perfect target level.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Ok

 

[Tamberav]

@Miami Reef I have a hanna nitrite check you can have for cost of shipping. It is missing the vials though but hanna sells em.

It came with a set up I bought so I can't say I ever used it, it just sits around. I have almost thrown it away a few times tbh.

 

[Miami Reef]

@Miami Reef I have a hanna nitrite check you can have for cost of shipping. It is missing the vials though but hanna sells em.

It came with a set up I bought so I can't say I ever used it, it just sits around. I have almost thrown it away a few times tbh.

Lol. Thanks.

My nitrAtes are less than .5ppm now haha.

I got what I needed in the end. Seems like I just needed to feed less and be consistent with my carbon dosing. Now I just dose 40mL of vinegar a day to maintain it, but I might need even less!