Nitirites Help ... Newer Tank

[WeLoveReefers]

Hello everyone I need some help and advice. I recently set up a 20 gal saltwater reef / fish tank. I started with live sand, live rock, 1 damsel and 1 clown with a simple marine land hang on the back bio wheel filter. 2-3 weeks go bye my tank went through the cycle I was told it was good to go and I could add more to it. So turns out the damsel was being a little jerk and snipping at the clown so I played hell getting him out of the tank. I had to remove all the rocks stirred up the sand eventually got him out. Added a clean up crew, an additional clown, blue hippo, and an anemone and a few frags. A few days go bye and I get my water tested and my nitrites spiked up to 4.0 on the easy strips chart. Recently I have been doing 50% water changes every three days to lower it. It has lowered to 3.0. Can someone please offer some advice on how to sustain my nitrites to a suitable level? I'm new to the hobby so please keep it simple to a language I can understand :squigglemouth: ....


Thanks everyone!

 

[killmc]

as you add more fish/invets to tank it has to cycle up to handle the heavier bio loads. keep doing water changes and add de-nitrate and or chem pure to help till it in normal range again or run it perm like some do

 

[redfishbluefish]

Actually nitrites are really not an issue with saltwater tanks. Doesn't bother the wildlife we keep. It is but a step in the conversion of ammonia to nitrate. What you need to watch is ammonia....that's the killer. Otherwise, once we get to nitrate, you need to "export" that to get it out of your tank. If you have a reef, i'd prefer keeping it below 20ppm, with a FOWLR, 40ppm.

Bottom line, don't worry about nitrites....don't even measure for them. You want to see zero ammonia and some nitrate.

Hope this helps.

 

[Triton Marine]

Your nitrites are fine….Now to the real issue. What LFS sold you a hippo tang for a 20g tank? They should be shot…lol. Thats just mean to the fish. I would sit back and relax and think about what you really want in your tank. With a 20gal you have to think about what you want in the tank for the long run since you are limited on what and how much livestock you can put in. Also what type of light are you running since you say REEF tank? We just want to steer you in the right direction since it sounds like your LFS just wants to make a sale.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Lil info to read:
Nitrite and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[jayhawk]

If you are testing nitrite you can convert it, to nitrate, by dividing your reading by 3.29. My Hanna PC is for nitrite and this is how they suggest getting a nitrate reading.