Reasonable to wait for nitrite reduction?

[ABQ_CHRIS]

My LFS, that I adore, would like me to wait for my nitrites to zero out again before I add my first coral. Ever. I think zoanthids are my ideal first coral.

Nitrites had been zero, but over the last two weeks I have seen (as has my LFS) small amounts of nitrites. Somewhere between 0.125ppm and 0.4ppm.

In saltwater tanks nitrites seem to not be a big deal. The majority appear to stop even testing for nitrites once the initial nitrogen cycle is complete.

What do you think?

 

[Dierks]

I would disagree with your LFS. You NEED nitrate and Phosphate, even if its a low level in your tank for any coral to live. Also if you hit zero you will have to deal with Cyano or Dinos.

Zoas are very hardy and can do well in just about any water condition.

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

I would disagree with your LFS. You NEED nitrate and Phosphate, even if its a low level in your tank for any coral to live. Also if you hit zero you will have to deal with Cyano or Dinos.

Zoas are very hardy and can do well in just about any water condition.

He's referring to nitrite, not nitrate.

 

[ABQ_CHRIS]

Tank started June 24, 2022. 8 weeks old. Bioload = 4 small fish, 1 shrimp, many snails. Many copepods and amphipods.

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

Tank started June 24, 2022. 8 weeks old. Bioload = 4 small fish, 1 shrimp, many snails. Many copepods and amphipods.

Soft corals are very hardy. You should be able to add them. I wouldn't get anything crazy expensive, but you should be able to put something in there to spice things up.

 

[Dierks]

He's referring to nitrite, not nitrate.

I'm sorry, you are right!! I apologize I misread.

If you have nitrites I would agree with your LFS as you are still going through mini cycles it sounds like if you have any nitrites.

Again I apologize.

 

[BlueDamselReef]

Reasonable to wait for nitrite reduction? Yes.

Nitrites ideally should be at zero. Do you know how long nitrites have been up? Give them a few days and they should go back down to zero again. Then you can do a water change and add your Coral.

 

[131696]

I say wait 6 months till corals and just get fish for now after cycle has stopped,can't be in a hurry

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

My LFS, that I adore, would like me to wait for my nitrites to zero out again before I add my first coral. Ever. I think zoanthids are my ideal first coral.

Nitrites had been zero, but over the last two weeks I have seen (as has my LFS) small amounts of nitrites. Somewhere between 0.125ppm and 0.4ppm.

In saltwater tanks nitrites seem to not be a big deal. The majority appear to stop even testing for nitrites once the initial nitrogen cycle is complete.

What do you think?

Corals use all stages of the nitrogen cycle as food. Maturity of the tank notwithstanding, you can even add coral to a tank that still has ammonia; nitrite won't cause any problems itself.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

My LFS, that I adore, would like me to wait for my nitrites to zero out again before I add my first coral. Ever. I think zoanthids are my ideal first coral.

Nitrites had been zero, but over the last two weeks I have seen (as has my LFS) small amounts of nitrites. Somewhere between 0.125ppm and 0.4ppm.

In saltwater tanks nitrites seem to not be a big deal. The majority appear to stop even testing for nitrites once the initial nitrogen cycle is complete.

What do you think?

The main question is the maturity and stability of your tank, not specifically the presence of nitrites. As I posted above, coral utilize ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate (and nitrogen) as food, and won't be negatively affected simply because of them

 

[ABQ_CHRIS]

Reasonable to wait for nitrite reduction? Yes.

Nitrites ideally should be at zero. Do you know how long nitrites have been up? Give them a few days and they should go back down to zero again. Then you can do a water change and add your Coral.

Nitrites have been "up" for ~2 weeks. They are the lowest non-zero I could imagine.

Reasonable to wait for nitrite reduction? Yes.

Nitrites ideally should be at zero. Do you know how long nitrites have been up? Give them a few days and they should go back down to zero again. Then you can do a water change and add your Coral.

Why is zero nitrites ideal? What percentage of reefers with mature systems even test for nitrites?

I am a patient dude and I am cool to wait, but I need to know why waiting is the right choice.

Do mature systems have nitrites? It would be weird to have a population of bacteria so large that they almost instantaneous consume all nitrite as it is being created by the ammonia consumers.

 

[AJnanoreef]

My LFS, that I adore, would like me to wait for my nitrites to zero out again before I add my first coral. Ever. I think zoanthids are my ideal first coral.

Nitrites had been zero, but over the last two weeks I have seen (as has my LFS) small amounts of nitrites. Somewhere between 0.125ppm and 0.4ppm.

In saltwater tanks nitrites seem to not be a big deal. The majority appear to stop even testing for nitrites once the initial nitrogen cycle is complete.

What do you think?

Following I have the same question

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

It would be weird to have a population of bacteria so large that they almost instantaneous consume all nitrite as it is being created by the ammonia consumers.

Actually, no, not weird at all. In many cases, the bacteria do just that - convert nitrite to nitrate so quickly that you never get detectable nitrites.
That being said, aside from artificially elevating your nitrate results, the presence of nitrite is for the most part benign and irrelevant (most experienced reefers don't even test for trites when cycling a new tank)

 

[ABQ_CHRIS]

Actually, no, not weird at all. In many cases, the bacteria do just that - convert nitrite to nitrate so quickly that you never get detectable nitrites.
That being said, aside from artificially elevating your nitrate results, the presence of nitrite is for the most part benign and irrelevant (most experienced reefers don't even test for trites when cycling a new tank)

Cool. The more you know. Thanks. It would be nice to know the bacterial population. I guess that's what Aquabiomics is trying to do?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Cool. The more you know. Thanks. It would be nice to know the bacterial population. I guess that's what Aquabiomics is trying to do?

I don't know that Aquabiomics is focusing on nitrifying bacteria. You'd have to ask them. From what I understand they look more at pathogenic strains, but I could be wrong.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’d personally go ahead with a hardy, not to expensive coral, and I expect it to be perfectly fine.

 

[BlueDamselReef]

Nitrites have been "up" for ~2 weeks. They are the lowest non-zero I could imagine.


Why is zero nitrites ideal? What percentage of reefers with mature systems even test for nitrites?

I am a patient dude and I am cool to wait, but I need to know why waiting is the right choice.

Do mature systems have nitrites? It would be weird to have a population of bacteria so large that they almost instantaneous consume all nitrite as it is being created by the ammonia consumers.

Everyone has their own way of doing things and you will get many different opinions on many different topics. Your LFS advises to wait for zero nitrites and I'm just saying that I agree. I cannot speak in regards to other reefers and what they are doing with their systems but I personally have always waited for zero ammonia and zero nitrites and my tank to stabilize. I also personally try to test my water at least once a week to ensure water is remaining stable and have never seen my own nitrites go up. I keep nano systems so water is more susceptible to potential swings and why I like to check on it so often, no matter how established it is.

 

[ABQ_CHRIS]

Everyone has their own way of doing things and you will get many different opinions on many different topics. Your LFS advises to wait for zero nitrites and I'm just saying that I agree. I cannot speak in regards to other reefers and what they are doing with their systems but I personally have always waited for zero ammonia and zero nitrites and my tank to stabilize. I also personally try to test my water at least once a week to ensure water is remaining stable and have never seen my own nitrites go up. I keep nano systems so water is more susceptible to potential swings and why I like to check on it so often, no matter how established it is.

Fair enough. Nitrites continue to fall (which means I was wrong about them previously being the lowest non-zero number). And I remain coral-less.

We'll see what happens tomorrow.

 

[BlueDamselReef]

Fair enough. Nitrites continue to fall (which means I was wrong about them previously being the lowest non-zero number). And I remain coral-less.

We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Waiting game sucks and I'm right there with you! Getting my first fish in there tomorrow, finally, after staring at an empty tank for 3 weeks!