Nitrogen cycle - where are them nitrites and nitrates?!

[JCOLE]

The maturity kit includes all components to cycle your reef (Bacter, Nitro Bacter, No3.PO4.X and KH).

Is that just a starter kit or does it contain a test kit also for Nitrate?

 

[juanrmattos]

Is that just a starter kit or does it contain a test kit also for Nitrate?

That is a starter kit, the Test kit is called Marine Care

 

[JCOLE]

That is a starter kit, the Test kit is called Marine Care

Ok. That's what I figured. I guess the question for Ross Peterson would be what test kit are you using to test for Nitrates?

 

[Ross Petersen]

That is a starter kit, the Test kit is called Marine Care

This is the test kit I have been using, yup.

 

[Ross Petersen]

Ok. That's what I figured. I guess the question for Ross Peterson would be what test kit are you using to test for Nitrates?

Marine Care my friend.

 

[Ross Petersen]

maybe there was some bleach in the tank?

I pre-rinsed so likely not this variable.

 

[Ross Petersen]

Its a mystery - I do not trust NH3/NH4 test - by I usually trust NO2 tests. NO3 tests in the start is normally not needed - if there is NO2 in the water - NO3 tests will give a false reading. With as much as over 2 ppm NH3/NH4 added - you should have NO2 readings sometimes during this time, regardless addition of bacteria or not.

The only explanations I can see is that something in your water kill your nitrification bacteria or your oxygen levels is too low. Both of this explanations comes very low on the probability scale for me - but of course it can be true once in a while. The oxygen track demands that your oxygen levels is below 3 ppm for the first step (NH3/NH4 -> NO2). The second step demand more than 5 ppm oxygen to work satisfactorily.

About the Nitrospira genus (probably the active genus in biospira) - for long time it has only been seen as a nitrite oxidizer (NOB) - therefore not active in the first step of ammonia oxidizers (NH3/NH4 -> NO2) - AOB. However - lately it have been discovered that the Nitrospira genus contain species in the comammox (COMplete AMMonium OXidation) group and therefore some species/clades can work the full cycle. Because I do not know what Biospira contain - i can´t say if it is active in the first step, however IME - the first step normally start by itself. Its important to know that ammonia oxidation not only happens with help of bacteria - even Archean organism is active in this - normally refereed as ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA). The article linked describe the environmental conditions for ammonia oxidation very well.

Back to your problem. Because it is a quarantine tank - I suppose you have a working tank. If you have a filter in your main tank - I would clean it and take the waste in a bottle together with saltwater. Shake well and dose some every day. Put the bottle in the refrigerator. If you do not have any filter - just wash up some sand and take the sludge instead. But I want a clean start - not contaminate from my old water you maybe say. But in this case - your new fish will sooner or later meet the microorganisms of your DT and to introduce a limit amount of them in your quarantine may help their immune system and if they can´t stand your DT´s fauna of microorganism - you can treat already in the QT.

The trick with soil - outlined in this article - can work too

Sincerely Lasse

Thank you Lasse. I’m actually just about to set up a 100 gallon display tank. Went quarantine first as I plan on being prudent and quarantining a pair of clowns for 6 weeks or so.

Thanks for the links. Reviewing now.

I’m going to run some dissolved oxygen tests today for fun, and maybe order a universal chemistry test to look for trace metal contamination.

I ordered some biospira too to exclude the possibility of sterile bacteria.

 

[Lasse]

IMO - the problem with starter kits is that they do everything directly. I prefer to establish the nitrification cycle first (and that type of autotrophic slow growing bacteria) and just not doing anything to promote heterotrophic bacteria. I also want some inorganic N and PO4 in the water in the beginning in order to promote the growth.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Ross Petersen]

IMO - the problem with starter kits is that they do everything directly. I prefer to establish the nitrification cycle first (and that type of autotrophic slow growing bacteria) and just not doing anything to promote heterotrophic bacteria. I also want some inorganic N and PO4 in the water in the beginning in order to promote the growth.

Sincerely Lasse

I value this sentiment. Let nature proceed and minimize additives where possible. I'm trying to temper this a bit with my students' desire to start longitudinal research projects. It's a juggle, but this is part of the academic fun.

 

[Hermie]

I pre-rinsed so likely not this variable.

Not to sound purposely obtuse, What does "pre-rinse" mean?

 

[Ross Petersen]

Not to sound purposely obtuse, What does "pre-rinse" mean?

For sure. I rinsed the tank with tap water, then a few liters of RODI water, before finally adding fresh RODI with salt.

 

[JCOLE]

Marine Care my friend.

Ok. Just making sure it wasnt API.