Nitrite and nitrate

[Jayrock93]

So I have a 40 breeder tank it's been up for a month I've used turbo start 900 everyday for 15 days I have zero amonia but for some reason my nitrate and nitrite are high as hell neither will come down I'm testing with salifert testers any help would be nice

 

[SlugSnorter]

did you add anything to produce ammonia?

 

[gbroadbridge]

So I have a 40 breeder tank it's been up for a month I've used turbo start 900 everyday for 15 days I have zero amonia but for some reason my nitrate and nitrite are high as hell neither will come down I'm testing with salifert testers any help would be nice

Which Test kits?

Many Nitrate tests are confused by any Nitrite. When Nitrite is zero the Nitrate test will be correct.

It simply means that the tank is still cycling Nitrite. Nitrite is relatively harmless so you could just do a water change to reduce the numbers.

 

[Jayrock93]

Ya fish and food my amonia was super high for 2 weeks but it's all the way down now the only thing that's high is my nitrite and nitrate

 

[Jayrock93]

Which Test kits?

Many Nitrate tests are confused by any Nitrite. When Nitrite is zero the Nitrate test will be correct.

It simply means that the tank is still cycling Nitrite. Nitrite is relatively harmless so you could just do a water change to reduce the numbers.

Salifert

 

[SlugSnorter]

Ya fish and food my amonia was super high for 2 weeks but it's all the way down now the only thing that's high is my nitrite and nitrate

oh thats good then, the bacteria ate the ammonia and made nitrite, now, that nitrite is being eaten to produce nitrate.

 

[Jayrock93]

S

oh thats good then, the bacteria ate the ammonia and made nitrite, now, that nitrite is being eaten to produce nitrate.

So just stick it out and do a water change?

 

[SlugSnorter]

S

So just stick it out and do a water change?

no waterchanges until cycle is done. Wait till nitrite is zero, then do some tests to determine if you need to or not.

 

[Jayrock93]

no waterchanges until cycle is done. Wait till nitrite is zero, then do some tests to determine if you need to or not.

Ok thanks!!

 

[nereefpat]

I would wait it out. However...nitrite isn't toxic in saltwater at cycling levels. As mentioned, any nitrite present will make your nitrate kit read artificially high.

 

[SlugSnorter]

I would wait it out. However...nitrite isn't toxic in saltwater at cycling levels. As mentioned, any nitrite present will make your nitrate kit read artificially high.

better to let it cycle fishless IMO, It makes nitrate testing much easier.

 

[Jayrock93]

better to let it cycle fishless IMO, It makes nitrate testing much easier.

I'll keep that in mind but it's about a month to late for that lol

 

[Jayrock93]

I would wait it out. However...nitrite isn't toxic in saltwater at cycling levels. As mentioned, any nitrite present will make your nitrate kit read artificially high.

Ok cool thanks