Nitrites and nitrates in cycle.

[.AcroKiller.]

I been reading some about nitrite not being toxic to saltwater fish but I’m still unsure about this one. What do y’all think about this test results l? Attached below is my nitrite and nitrate test today. Ammonia is at 0. I started the tank with fritz turbo 900. Y’all think is good enough to put 1 or 2 fish.

 

[Propane]

If it were me I’d wait.

 

[Rugops]

Nitrite does not hurt SW fish but I would imagine in a cycled setup, there wouldn't be NO2 anyway.

I would add in macro algae like chaeto or calupera to suck in any excess nutrients.

 

[.AcroKiller.]

Nitrite does not hurt SW fish but I would imagine in a cycled setup, there wouldn't be NO2 anyway.

I would add in macro algae like chaeto or calupera to suck in any excess nutrients.

I started my Algae scrubber but it has not started growing algae yet. So I’m waiting for it to kick start.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is correct that nitrite is not a tox concern at any level you will attain in cycling or later, and is only worth measuring for fun, and to interpret nitrate tests, which typically read far too high when nitrite is present and interfering.

Thus, your nitrate is far lower than the test indicates.


Here’s an article where I shown the known levels needed for toxicity:

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

 

[.AcroKiller.]

It is correct that nitrite is not a tox concern at any level you will attain in cycling or later, and is only worth measuring for fun, and to interpret nitrate tests, which typically read far too high when nitrite is present and interfering.

Thus, your nitrate is far lower than the test indicates.


Here’s an article where I shown the known levels needed for toxicity:

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

Thank you Randy.

 

[geekengineer]

This is good to know I just posted something related to this and I guess I missed the memo that nitrites were not necessarily a bad thing in Saltwater at least at the levels I thought. My API test is purple like that too. I had did a 50% water change thinking something was very wrong, so my nitrates are a little lower than the OP now.