Nitrite Issue

[Josh Hobgood]

Hey all. I have a 120 gallon set up. The tank cycled for 6 weeks. My numbers read 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 20-50 nitrates (I can't read the Red Sea test good). I added a couple of fish and began light feedings and today during my weekly test got a reading of .2 nitrites. I am concerned because the fish I purchased cost a lot of money. At least to me. I did a 30 gallon change before adding the fish. Any suggestions?

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Hey all. I have a 120 gallon set up. The tank cycled for 6 weeks. My numbers read 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 20-50 nitrates (I can't read the Red Sea test good). I added a couple of fish and began light feedings and today during my weekly test got a reading of .2 nitrites. I am concerned because the fish I purchased cost a lot of money. At least to me. I did a 30 gallon change before adding the fish. Any suggestions?

Youll be fine, its ammonia NH3, to be afraid of. Always good to have test kit for only NH3. Dont sweat it.

 

[Josh Hobgood]

Ammonia tested 0 today around 4:00!

 

[Josh Hobgood]

Also, I have green slime/algae growing on the glass. Will this go away in time?

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Also, I have green slime/algae growing on the glass. Will this go away in time?

Each tank is different. I use sugar base prod. Gets rid of yhat and NO3 & PO4

 

[Daniel 123]

The way I understand it is your bacteria colony will grow to match your bioload, this may have not happened yet since the new introduction of fish and feeding. Hang in there and stay on top of it your tank will continue to colonize itself and all will be taken care of, my dads tank is going through the same issue right now.


Jomama, said it best don't sweat it.

 

[Jameseywayney]

With a newly cycled tank its usually best to add hardy cheaper fish such as clowns and chromis. But that doesn't help your current situation. You could go purchase bacteria and dose that to help eat those nitrites and potential ammonia. Watch the fish and make sure they're eating and not gasping for air at the top. Otherwise just ride it out and ensure to feed lightly

 

[Porkstar]

Add some extra surface area and seed with more bacteria.

 

[Josh Hobgood]

They seem to be swimming calmly and not gasping. I’ve been testing ammonia daily since adding them and have yet to have any show on the test

 

[acabgd]

Hopefully you'll be okay. Just test for ammonia and don't overfeed. Give it some time and don't' add any more fish until your tank stabilizes.

 

[EmdeReef]

Nitrites aren’t a concern in saltwater. 0.2 nitrite is fine even in line with the levels found in the oceans , assuming your test is accurate.

Toxicity has been observed at much higher levels, rarely found in any tank.

 

[kwan8911]

Nitrites aren’t a concern in saltwater. 0.2 nitrite is fine even in line with the levels found in the oceans , assuming your test is accurate.

Toxicity has been observed at much higher levels, rarely found in any tank.

Agreed, nitrite is much less toxic for saltwater fish compared with freshwater fish because of the high level of chloride in the seawater. The LC50 (concentration to killed 50%) for clownfish is 344 ppm. See below for much more detail

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.php#tab2

 

[Josh Hobgood]

Okay guys and gals. My nitrites are gone! It is good to know they are not that big a deal in saltwater tanks. I have had what looks like a bacterial bloom everyday. It seems to get worse during the day. I know the lights might make it seem worse so I took out water throughout the day in a white cup and it still seems to be cloudier in the middle of the day as the PH goes up. I monitor rises and falls through Neptune Apex. My levels are as follows:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
Phosphate: .03
PH: 8.3
Temp: 77.9
Salinity: 1.025
Alkalinity: 7.5 (Was 8.3 One Week Ago)
Magnesium: 1480
Calcium: I topped the Hanna Checker Out 3 Times in a Row. It just blinks 600 (I think it is really high)

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/hw-marinemix-reefer-salt-mix.html

That is a link to the Salt I have been using. I have switched to...

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aquarium-salt-mix-red-sea.html

It does seem to have the "snow" affect in the day. I have a Purple and Yellow Tang. For corals I have a Gold Wall Hammer Frag in the sand and a Frogspawn Frag in the sand. I also have one hermit crab. I have Red Sea's Alkalinity supplement and ESV Bionic 2 Part on hand. I am currently doing weekly 12 gallon water changes. My question is how should I proceed dealing with the Alkalinity and Calcium?

 

[acabgd]

You should try to keep alkalinity as stable as possible. 8.3 vs 7.5 is not a very large drop but it will affect coral. For calcium - have you been adding anything? It's really hard to imagine to have gone over 600 ppm as it would tend to precipitate rather than climb that high. Possibly double-check with another test kit. Otherwise just let it drop naturally over a few weeks.

 

[Josh Hobgood]

You should try to keep alkalinity as stable as possible. 8.3 vs 7.5 is not a very large drop but it will affect coral. For calcium - have you been adding anything? It's really hard to imagine to have gone over 600 ppm as it would tend to precipitate rather than climb that high. Possibly double-check with another test kit. Otherwise just let it drop naturally over a few weeks.

I’ve order a Red Sea kit to cross reference. Do you think it’s possibly bacterial?

 

[FoxyFace]

Josh, what is your goal? Are you in the process of starting a full blown reef? Do you want a fish only with live rock system?

 

[acabgd]

I’ve order a Red Sea kit to cross reference. Do you think it’s possibly bacterial?

You mean the clouding? Most probably, but can also be other things. No way of knowing without some in-depth look and photos.

 

[Josh Hobgood]

End goal is a full blown reef. I’ll post some pics when I get home today around 4

 

[Josh Hobgood]

You mean the clouding? Most probably, but can also be other things. No way of knowing without some in-depth look and photos.

 

[lapin]

Your salt mix had hw-Marinemix Reefer contained Calcium at 445-450 ppm, Alk of 9.0 dKH, Magnesium at 1380 ppm. Unless you added something to make it higher or your salinity is way off. Its hard to get to 600ppm cal with just salt.
As far as the cloud. It could be bacterial or could be algae. Do you have a carbon reactor? Do you have a UV sterilizer? Do you have a skimmer?