Nitrites not lowering

[entranced]

I'm cycling my 23g aquarium, started around 3-4 weeks ago.

My current values are
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0.15ppm (maybe a little more)
Nitrate 5-10ppm

Haven't seen much change in the last week or so, i didn't dose ammonia since i have a decent amount of live rock with all sort of critters in it.

I'm using prodac tests, is there anything i can do to make nitrites go to 0, or should i just wait more time?

thanks!

 

[Quietman]

Wouldn't worry about it. After that much time and no ammonia with nitrites and nitrates present - you're ready for fish.

Nitrites aren't toxic in saltwater so no concern there. They'll drop over time but shouldn't stop you from enjoying your tank.

 

[thedon986]

Agree, I think you are good to go. You have Nitrates so the bacteria to convert Nitrites is there and working.

 

[Azedenkae]

I'm cycling my 23g aquarium, started around 3-4 weeks ago.

My current values are
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0.15ppm (maybe a little more)
Nitrate 5-10ppm

Haven't seen much change in the last week or so, i didn't dose ammonia since i have a decent amount of live rock with all sort of critters in it.

I'm using prodac tests, is there anything i can do to make nitrites go to 0, or should i just wait more time?

thanks!

Probably just a tad bit slow. But if you have actual live rock, you may be fine. You can dose a lower amount of ammonia instead, for example 0.5ppm and check it can decrease to zero in 6 hours, rather than 2ppm in 24 hours. Or even 0.25ppm in 3 hours instead.

But yes, as others said, you don't have to necessarily worry about nitrite, at least not at that concentration. To clarify, nitrite CAN be toxic and even lethal to marine fish. For ocellaris clownfish, prolonged exposure to 25ppm nitrite can cause long term health issues. Nitrite in the hundreds will be lethal to a lot of different fish. Randy Holmes-Farley, the namesake of our chemistry forum, wrote an article on this a while back: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.php.

 

[entranced]

Probably just a tad bit slow. But if you have actual live rock, you may be fine. You can dose a lower amount of ammonia instead, for example 0.5ppm and check it can decrease to zero in 6 hours, rather than 2ppm in 24 hours. Or even 0.25ppm in 3 hours instead.

But yes, as others said, you don't have to necessarily worry about nitrite, at least not at that concentration. To clarify, nitrite CAN be toxic and even lethal to marine fish. For ocellaris clownfish, prolonged exposure to 25ppm nitrite can cause long term health issues. Nitrite in the hundreds will be lethal to a lot of different fish. Randy Holmes-Farley, the namesake of our chemistry forum, wrote an article on this a while back: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.php.

Thanks, that was a very informative and interesting read.

 

[brandon429]

one of the most accurate ways to view nitrate in display tank cycling is no tank on this forum has been affected by presence of nitrite in the history of the board, a challenge exists to find and post only one example

we can see how that affected the tank's ability to carry bioload

because the starting ratios of ammonia we use cannot mathematically translate into lethal levels of nitrite, there isn't a time nitrite factors in reef display tank running and especially cycling. it has been pointed out prior that freshwater systems are harmed by it, and low salinity quarantine setups

but not display tank reefs

we've been studying how nitrite does not cause problems in ammonia processing, though specifically in online videos its claimed to stall ammonia processing.

what changed the game was accurate ability to measure nh3 ammonia levels in the hobby nowadays (seneye) vs old days where color guessing from a tube + 5 ways to adulterate the test were in play. all those mis assessments were assigned as cycle stalls, and none were actually stalls. at no time did nitrite presence register on a seneye-running tank's nh3 probe an inability to control ammonia. The online videos for cycle training paint it as a clear and common risk.

nitrite is such a non player in reefing, to even mention it beyond that statement is over hype, not one example exists on the site for a problem traced to nitrite and this site is going on 10+ years or so, that kind of stats mean something significant. in display tanks there isn't a time it can become lethal, that's the most accurate presentation and its a core element in updated cycling science vs old scary buy more bottle bac cycling science.

if there was say ten or so reefs on seneye that couldnt control ammonia during a nitrite phase of cycling that would mean something, but there isn't a single one on a tuned and trimmed meter. its 100% compliance rate across tanks on seneye, that means something. it means cycles do fine and there aren't ways to stall them using any practical approach.

 

[brandon429]

even on this actual tank, the nitrites may very well be in compliance if the reading was from hanna digital. we can see how color tube test kits affect ammonia assessment, same goes for nitrite/we tend to accept all stated params in the hobby as accurate until digital comes along to umpire them and reflect on actual trends.

 

[Azedenkae]

Thanks, that was a very informative and interesting read.

Yw.

I always find that it is important for information to be as accurate as possible in this hobby. I don't like to spread misinformation, because you never know when the truth actually matters.

 

[Yazannreef]

You are ready for fish/ invert and some starter corals. Happy reefing