Nitrite spike following addition of 3 fish

[Al.B]

I started testing my ammonia and nitrite following the addition of 3 new fish. The ammonia went up just a little to 0.1-0.2, but the nitrite today tested around 5. I didn’t want to take out half the water so I used some prime, 3x dose. Says up to 5x for an emergency. 4 hrs later it is still testing at about 5. Does prime doing its thing affect my nitrite test? Should it be lower after prime or no? The fish don’t seem to be behaving any different. Should I give the max dose to be safe? Do I need to redose after a specific period if the level doesn’t come down? Couldn’t find these specifics after some searching.

 

[Saltyreef]

I started testing my ammonia and nitrite following the addition of 3 new fish. The ammonia went up just a little to 0.1-0.2, but the nitrite today tested around 5. I didn’t want to take out half the water so I used some prime, 3x dose. Says up to 5x for an emergency. 4 hrs later it is still testing at about 5. Does prime doing its thing affect my nitrite test? Should it be lower after prime or no? The fish don’t seem to be behaving any different. Should I give the max dose to be safe? Do I need to redose after a specific period if the level doesn’t come down? Couldn’t find these specifics after some searching.

Is your tank cycled?
Or are you hoping to cycle it with the addition of these 3 fish?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There’s no reason to be concerned about 5 ppm nitrite in a reef tank, and no reason to think the Prime does anything useful for ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate.

 

[Al.B]

Is your tank cycled?
Or are you hoping to cycle it with the addition of these 3 fish?

I was cycled about a month ago and I added 3 additional fish to my 2 clowns. I assume this is a mini cycle.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This has more on nitrite:

Nitrite and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[Al.B]

There’s no reason to be concerned about 5 ppm nitrite in a reef tank, and no reason to think the Prime does anything useful for ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate.

A little confused. So I thought nitrite >2 would be a problem for the fish. You’re saying I shouldn’t be worried and that prime doesn’t neutralize the nitrite like they claim?

 

[Al.B]

This has more on nitrite:

Nitrite and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

I’ll read, thanks

 

[Al.B]

Interesting read.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

A little confused. So I thought nitrite >2 would be a problem for the fish. You’re saying I shouldn’t be worried and that prime doesn’t neutralize the nitrite like they claim?

That concern would be a carryover from freshwater, and yes I think it does nothing for ammonia, nitrate and nitrite.

There are several threads that layout the experiments and other reasons to not believe the claims. Nitrite rationale would be the same as the nitrate rationale. Ammonia is different, and needs experimentation to show the lack of effect.

 

[Saltyreef]

I was cycled about a month ago and I added 3 additional fish to my 2 clowns. I assume this is a mini cycle.

I would not test ammonia or nitrite if theres plenty of surface area for bacteria to colonize and its been running for a month already cycled.