Nitrates the same day after water change.

[Pauliex77x]

My 25 lagoon has been up and running for about a month now with fish. Livestock is 2 clowns and 5 nessarius snails. Last week after doing a series of 3 five gallon water changes my parameters finally got to:

0 ammonia
0 Nitrites
2 ppm nitrates

Yesterday i tested again and ammonia was still at 0 but nitrites jumped to 1 ppm and nitrates were up to 50 ppm

I did a 5 gallon water change and now just under 24 hours later paramaters are the same as yesterday. Im using the salifert kits to perform the tests.

Does this sound like a testing error? im certain that a 5 gallon change on roughly 20 gallons of actual water volume should have knocked those numbers down. Thanks for any input because its baffling me.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

First, ammonia is 0, so that is good. Everything should be fine.

Second, if you are reading Nitrite, don't test Nitrate, you will get a false high reading.

Now, nitrite isn't harmful to saltwater inhabitants the same way that it is for freshwater. Keep an eye on the tank, and if everything looks good, leave it alone. Wait a couple of days before you test again. Most reefers don't test nitrite unless there is a problem. I haven't test for it in years.

If you are really concerned, I would add some Fritz Turbo 9000, the refrigerated kind. You could also add a different bacteria of your choice. Other than that, I would leave it alone for at least a week unless your fish start to tell you otherwise.

 

[Pauliex77x]

First, ammonia is 0, so that is good. Everything should be fine.

Second, if you are reading Nitrite, don't test Nitrate, you will get a false high reading.

Now, nitrite isn't harmful to saltwater inhabitants the same way that it is for freshwater. Keep an eye on the tank, and if everything looks good, leave it alone. Wait a couple of days before you test again. Most reefers don't test nitrite unless there is a problem. I haven't test for it in years.

If you are really concerned, I would add some Fritz Turbo 9000, the refrigerated kind. You could also add a different bacteria of your choice. Other than that, I would leave it alone for at least a week unless your fish start to tell you otherwise.

Should have said i used fritz to start the cycle with the two clowns. I didnt know nitrites could give you a false reading on nitrates. I was about to do another water change i guess i should hold off until nitrites hit 0 on their own?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, just wait.

 

[Pauliex77x]

Thanks guys. Ill wait a few days and test it again. Wont do another WC until i see zero nitrites.