Nitrite and Nitrate are Sky High

[rpkneumann]

I just finished my cycle but decided on a 30% water change. I had a lot of gunk floating in my tank (probably dust from cutting my polycarbonate lids)
All is good.
Wish you good luck

 

[Sdoutreefer]

I just finished my cycle but decided on a 30% water change. I had a lot of gunk floating in my tank (probably dust from cutting my polycarbonate lids)
All is good.
Wish you good luck

Good luck to you as well, Sir. I'm hoping my decent size WC will help out, although everything does seem happy.

 

[SmolGoby]

It seems you've made it through from the previous reply's, just wanted to say I've started around 8/9 tanks with only caribsea live sand & fritz turbo start. I just assemble everything, fill with water, add the turbo start & wait 6-8 weeks. Works every time with 0 nutrient issues.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

It seems you've made it through from the previous reply's, just wanted to say I've started around 8/9 tanks with only caribsea live sand & fritz turbo start. I just assemble everything, fill with water, add the turbo start & wait 6-8 weeks. Works every time with 0 nutrient issues.

I made it. Just decided to go for it, lol.

This whole fishless cycle stuff is new to me. Last tank I had was around 13 years ago and we'd cure out the live rock, put in the live rock and let it cycle.

How the times have changed...

 

[Feballa]

So glad I found this post, I’m on day 19 with the same issues. Zero ammonia but high nitrites and nitrates. First time salty, and I’m getting anxious to get something in the water. I think I will go this weekend and get one or two fish and see what comes of it.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

So glad I found this post, I’m on day 19 with the same issues. Zero ammonia but high nitrites and nitrates. First time salty, and I’m getting anxious to get something in the water. I think I will go this weekend and get one or two fish and see what comes of it.

It’s been 19 days?? I’d go for it honestly.

since you’re new, I would suggest getting some live copepods from your LFS along with some live phyto if the LFS has it. Put the pods in the tank and dose your phyto at night. I would do that for a few days before getting fish. Pods do an amazing job at cleaning!

 

[Feballa]

It’s been 19 days?? I’d go for it honestly.

since you’re new, I would suggest getting some live copepods from your LFS along with some live phyto if the LFS has it. Put the pods in the tank and dose your phyto at night. I would do that for a few days before getting fish. Pods do an amazing job at cleaning!

I’ll grab pods and phyto tomorrow and let them soak. Maybe hit the store again on Saturday or Sunday. Any idea of hardy fish, other than clowns?

 

[Feballa]

It’s been 19 days?? I’d go for it honestly.

since you’re new, I would suggest getting some live copepods from your LFS along with some live phyto if the LFS has it. Put the pods in the tank and dose your phyto at night. I would do that for a few days before getting fish. Pods do an amazing job at cleaning!

Day 20 and same results, nitrates didn’t look to be as high as previously tested but nitrites look to be the same.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Day 20 and same results, nitrates didn’t look to be as high as previously tested but nitrites look to be the same.

The nitrate is a false high reading from nitrite. A tiny bit of nitrite can read as a lot of nitrate on a nitrate kit.

 

[JayM]

It seems you've made it through from the previous reply's, just wanted to say I've started around 8/9 tanks with only caribsea live sand & fritz turbo start. I just assemble everything, fill with water, add the turbo start & wait 6-8 weeks. Works every time with 0 nutrient issues.

6-8 weeks? I waited less than 24 hours with the same stuff, and that’s only because the LFS was closed at the time.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

I’ll grab pods and phyto tomorrow and let them soak. Maybe hit the store again on Saturday or Sunday. Any idea of hardy fish, other than clowns?

Depends who you ask, but I think green chromis are a great, hardy starting fish. What size is your tank?

 

[Sdoutreefer]

The nitrate is a false high reading from nitrite. A tiny bit of nitrite can read as a lot of nitrate on a nitrate kit.

This.

Randy helped push me to take the dive in buying my first couple fish on my new system

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Day 20 and same results, nitrates didn’t look to be as high as previously tested but nitrites look to be the same.

Ya, I'd go for it. Just don't go crazy. Remember to take it slow... I added (4) fish at once in my 48g system.

The tank saw quite an increase in bio-load. Once I added my CUC about a week later, the affects of that bio-load increase were quickly taken care of.

 

[Lavey29]

I’ll grab pods and phyto tomorrow and let them soak. Maybe hit the store again on Saturday or Sunday. Any idea of hardy fish, other than clowns?

Don't add pods to a brand new tank. Instant death and waste of money. Nitrites are completely irrelevant in reef aquaria. Elevated nitrates are expected post cycle hence the water change recommendation. Don't add more then 1 or 2 properly QT fish at a time. Wait 3 to 4 weeks before adding more.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Don't add pods to a brand new tank. Instant death and waste of money. Nitrites are completely irrelevant in reef aquaria. Elevated nitrates are expected post cycle hence the water change recommendation. Don't add more then 1 or 2 properly QT fish at a time. Wait 3 to 4 weeks before adding more.

Not true. My pod population has absolutely boomed. I even see them swimming in the daytime, which in my past tanks, is not common. Just need to make sure you're feeding with live-phyto so they have something to eat.

 

[Lavey29]

Not true. My pod population has absolutely boomed. I even see them swimming in the daytime, which in my past tanks, is not common. Just need to make sure you're feeding with live-phyto so they have something to eat.

Yea, it's true, been there tried that. Not my first rodeo. Watch what happens to the visible population in the coming weeks.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Yea, it's true, been there tried that. Not my first rodeo.

May be true for you, but not for me. Like I said, my pod population has boomed. Not my first rodeo.

 

[Feballa]

Depends who you ask, but I think green chromis are a great, hardy starting fish. What size is your tank?

I added some tig copepods today. Turned off all water movement and let them find a home before turning back on. I have a Waterbox 50.3, planning on fancy clowns but want to make sure everything is good before buying. Don’t want to sacrifice a fish but don’t want to spend a bunch to kill one either.

 

[Feballa]

Depends who you ask, but I think green chromis are a great, hardy starting fish. What size is your tank?

Went ahead and grabbed some Semi-Picasso Percula clowns and some frags I had in my son’s tank. Been a few hours and all is looking well, lights are off now and power head is on night mode. Sdoutreefer, thanks for the help and I’ll keep you updated on the results.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Went ahead and grabbed some Semi-Picasso Percula clowns and some frags I had in my son’s tank. Been a few hours and all is looking well, lights are off now and power head is on night mode. Sdoutreefer, thanks for the help and I’ll keep you updated on the results.

Heck ya! Glad I could help. Keep me updated