my nitrates went down not sure why

[adrianthetwin]

I'm cycling my tank my nitrites and nitrates were high so I was waiting for my nitrites to go down and now only my nitrates have gone to 0 ppm out of know were my nitrites are going down slowly but now my nitrates are gone what do I do now I have saltwater on the side ready for a interchange but I don't wanna mess anything up help please

 

[Amphibious]

Nitrates going down is a good thing. How long has the system been set up? What size is the system? Don’t do a water change yet, you will only prolong the cycle. You want the nitrifying bacteria to bring Nitrites down naturally.

Dick

 

[NobleSun27]

well the nitrites going down is good but the nitrates wouldn't go down unless there is some micro or macro algae to take them out. Do you have any algae growth on the sand or glass? if you don't you might want to make sure that wasn't a faulty test or something.

 

[adrianthetwin]

Tanks been up for like 1month now now algae growth I just wanna give up 10g tank so your telling me leaving it nitrites should just go Down themselves

 

[Pete polyp]

well the nitrites going down is good but the nitrates wouldn't go down unless there is some micro or macro algae to take them out. Do you have any algae growth on the sand or glass? if you don't you might want to make sure that wasn't a faulty test or something.

Huh?

 

[Pete polyp]

Tanks been up for like 1month now now algae growth I just wanna give up 10g tank so your telling me leaving it nitrites should just go Down themselves

Yes, they will convert into nitrate. It seems like you already have the bacteria there to convert the nitrate. Can you give us all the test results?

 

[adrianthetwin]

Pete I broke two of them so I have to work with one for now I'm gonna run to the store tomorrow and get a new set

 

[adrianthetwin]

Good news my nitrites a tee e going down now almost a purplish blue gonna test today when I get home from work I have diatoms growing on the glass and sand gonna wait till Monday to do a water change if parameters are good thanks guys

 

[Pete polyp]

Sounds ready to me

 

[adrianthetwin]

Pete got home today and my nitrites are at 0ppm abd nitrate 0ppm I'm gonna wait till tomorrow do a water change a d get a clean up crew soon man I'm so excited to get this started

 

[adrianthetwin]

Nitrates today

 

[adrianthetwin]

Sorry nitrites

 

[adrianthetwin]

This was yesterday at 7pm

 

[fishroomlady]

I'm thinking you would want to see some nitrates before doing a water change - oops posted right before the picture. Let the nitrites go down and I would expect the nitrates to increase from it. Once that happens, then do the water change is my advice. I'm doubting that your nitrates were truly 0 with nitrites being high

 

[adrianthetwin]

@fishroomlady they were pretty high at one point this one was like 1 week ago then they both went down in the last coupe days should I still wait a bit see if nitrates comes back??

 

[fishroomlady]

I would follow pete's advice. that is pretty high (the last pic), I'm just surprised that they've come down to 0 with you still having nitrites. Are you running a DSB?

 

[adrianthetwin]

No DSB just regular sand

 

[NobleSun27]

When doing your tests try and use a white background and a nice white light. As soon as there are no traces of nitrites then your ready to do the water change, the water change will bring the nitrates down and as long as your nitrates are closer to 5ppm you are ready to add your fish and coral. I always bring my nitrates to under 5ppm but its not a must. I think as long as you acclimate your clean up crew for at least 30 min you could go ahead and throw those guys in there. What kind of fish or inverts are you wanting to add to the tank?

 

[adrianthetwin]

Ok so I understand the nitrate and nitrite part I did wait and let me show you what I saw
This was nitrates a week ago when the nitrites went down to blue so I water changed and everything went even and so I bought turbo snail and hermit crabs and added them to clean diatoms and little things like that then when I checked the nitrites went up now there high and I think the tank is just getting a little cycle my little guys are doing good and the turbo snail looks good too all over the tank