Test result help

[Ry1]

Firstly thank you for taking the time to help the new guys, much appreciated.

So i am in week 3 of my first marine tank and today is test day, i have 2 clowns in my tank and have just got the following results, i am slightly worried about my Nitrites and Nitrate levels. What would you suggest? Is this normal.

Ammonia-0.1
Nitrite-0.8
Nitrate-30
Phosphate-0
Calcium-440
Magnesium-1480
Alkalinity-9
PH-8
Salinity-1.023

Thank you.

 

[Lasse]

Forget your Nitrate test - it is not valid if you have readings of nitrite. However - the high nitrite level indicate that your nitrification process have stuck before the second step (NO2 -> NO3). Just stop feeding for a while and if possible - add some nitrification bacteria. The NO2 levels is not toxic in saltwater but IMO - it is better to have the whole process to work before adding any more fish (read feed). If your clown are well feeded before - they will manage a long time without feeding.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Ry1]

Forget your Nitrate test - it is not valid if you have readings of nitrite. However - the high nitrite level indicate that your nitrification process have stuck before the second step (NO2 -> NO3). Just stop feeding for a while and if possible - add some nitrification bacteria. The NO2 levels is not toxic in saltwater but IMO - it is better to have the whole process to work before adding any more fish (read feed). If your clown are well feeded before - they will manage a long time without feeding.

Sincerely Lasse

Thank you for your response.

 

[Billdogg]

At three weeks, your tank has not completed the cycle process, and at least IMO, should not have fish in it yet.

Ammonia at any level is toxic to fish and other marine life. The damage that is done is usually invisible, but permanent in any case. Ammonia will burn the gills and can lead to premature death of fish. If possible, I'd remove the fish to another tank - it does not have to be cycled - you can easily keep their levels good with frequent water changes (daily) until the main display has completed it's cycle.

 

[Lasse]

Ammonia at any level is toxic to fish and other marine life. The damage that is done is usually invisible, but permanent in any case. Ammonia will burn the gills and can lead to premature death of fish.

First - it demands that the ammonia test showing the right concentrations - most total ammonia tests (NH3/NH4) show often false high levels.
Second - you can´t use the word ammonia in toxicological issues without differ between ionised form (NH4) and non ionised form (NH3) NH4 is not toxic but NH3 is. If you measure with a total ammonium kit (most ar exactly this - however - Sea Chem have tests that is exclusive for the toxic form) you must know the pH and temperature in order to see how high concentration you have of the toxic form. In this post - there is a quick tool in order to analyse if there is a danger or not.
With the figures in the first post - I can see that toxic ammonia is of no concern in this case.

My advises in this case is - Do not stress the fish - let them be in your aquarium - just do not feed for a couple of days or a week, add nitrification bacteria and if the NO2 level not have dropped during a week - just feed very, very little every second or third day till the level have dropped down to nearly zero. I would not either do any WC during this time. You can also read this article if you want more information about my standpoints in this case.

But in the end of the day - it is not my aquarium - I do not risk anything with my advise (more than some angry people) - You are the only person that can decide how to do and therefore is important to listen to different experiences and to take own wise decisions.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Ry1]

At three weeks, your tank has not completed the cycle process, and at least IMO, should not have fish in it yet.

Ammonia at any level is toxic to fish and other marine life. The damage that is done is usually invisible, but permanent in any case. Ammonia will burn the gills and can lead to premature death of fish. If possible, I'd remove the fish to another tank - it does not have to be cycled - you can easily keep their levels good with frequent water changes (daily) until the main display has completed it's cycle.

Thank you for your response, unfortunately i took the advise of the lfs as to when i could introduce fish as it is my first tank.

 

[Ry1]

First - it demands that the ammonia test showing the right concentrations - most total ammonia tests (NH3/NH4) show often false high levels.
Second - you can´t use the word ammonia in toxicological issues without differ between ionised form (NH4) and non ionised form (NH3) NH4 is not toxic but NH3 is. If you measure with a total ammonium kit (most ar exactly this - however - Sea Chem have tests that is exclusive for the toxic form) you must know the pH and temperature in order to see how high concentration you have of the toxic form. In this post - there is a quick tool in order to analyse if there is a danger or not.
With the figures in the first post - I can see that toxic ammonia is of no concern in this case.

My advises in this case is - Do not stress the fish - let them be in your aquarium - just do not feed for a couple of days or a week, add nitrification bacteria and if the NO2 level not have dropped during a week - just feed very, very little every second or third day till the level have dropped down to nearly zero. I would not either do any WC during this time. You can also read this article if you want more information about my standpoints in this case.

But in the end of the day - it is not my aquarium - I do not risk anything with my advise (more than some angry people) - You are the only person that can decide how to do and therefore is important to listen to different experiences and to take own wise decisions.

Sincerely Lasse

Thank you Lasse, i will take this advise. Once again the advice is very much appreciated.

 

[Lasse]

Note - my advices about no WC is valid as long as you do not see any bad things with your fish. You must judge your actions to what you see in your aquarium.

Sincerely Lasse