When you say no nitrite, do you really mean no nitrite?

[mcs]

I hope that this question does not sound like a spoiled teenager. We have 300 gal display tank that has been up for a little over a year. We completely replaced the rock three months ago. We have several very small frags of sps that seem to be doing well. We have had the montipora (attached) for almost three months (all of the growth from the "bend" is new) and the acropora for a little less than two months (about 1.5 times original size). Because of some green hair algae, I tested the water and got no ammonia (salifert), no nitrate (salifert), but 0.006ppm nitrite (Hanna). Is this level of nitrite concerning?

 

[Diesel]

No that level in a 300 gallon isn't concerning, yet keep a eye on it.
What is concerning is the 0.0 nitrate.
Pretty sure it's undectectable due to having some hair algae but even that you need to keep a eye on it, better yet in your corals.

 

[Resendes Reef]

Do you have the ultra low range Hanna tester?
That's what I have and tested 14ppb
Last night. I was wondering the same thing. Is that a high number?

 

[Waters]

I have always been told that nitrite should always be 0.....but I have never tested with a low range tester before. I guess it is only logical that there has to be some nitrite for it to be converted into nitrates but I was always under the impression that the conversion happened almost immediately.

 

[brandon429]

theres a thread on here about the most unneeded test in saltwater reefing/fishkeeping

its nitrite
the test isn't even required to cycle dry rocks, literally its the most unneeded test of all possible tests pretty cool to know. in our cycling threads we collected a good 5-10 chemistry threads/chem forum here on nitrite which only supports the notion.

top reasons nitrite isn't needed:
try and find a marine tank cycling chart online where nitrite doesn't comply when ammonia complies, only ammonia matters regarding safety and cycling. nitrate matters for nutrient control, we don't even need to test for that in any kind of tank cycle. when ammonia complies, the biosystem always makes nitrite comply plus its not toxic anyway.

most readings are misreadings when nitrite is indicated in cycled biosystems. additives like 'prime' are known adulterants to nitrite testing in some brands not sure about hanna. there are other adulterants as well and then also just simple variation in probe readings or colorimetrics etc

the case for never running a single nitrite test on a reef tank is mighty strong. even if med dosing is in play to truly alter the biosystem, only the ammonia matters until provisions are ramped back up. if your test is verified accurate w calibrated solutions to that level of discernment, then its fascinating to think it can catch pre-conversion nitrogen compounds because the turnover is very fast in our systems. ammonia and nitrite are in very high demand, we keep surface area well beyond whats needed its like trying to divide meat scraps among 6 football fields filled w hungry dogs, gonefast

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is this level of nitrite concerning?

Nitrite is just not toxic in a reef tank (unlike freshwater systems) and no reef tank ever has toxic levels that I have ever seen. It would take many, many ppm.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have always been told that nitrite should always be 0......

That's wrong. An incorrect carryover from freshwater systems. It is never even worth measuring in a reef tank.

This has more:

Nitrite and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.htm

 

[brandon429]

Randy can you clarify why we get those very low decimal readings, there was also a neat ammonia version of that in your forum last week. Are these meters sensitive enough to be catching pre conversion compounds as soon as the waste is emitted into the water vs just a very low level misreading? I would imagine the oxidation speed to be really fast in a matured reef tank, for both versions of nitrogen

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy can you clarify why we get those very low decimal readings, there was also a neat ammonia version of that in your forum last week. Are these meters sensitive enough to be catching pre conversion compounds as soon as the waste is emitted into the water vs just a very low level misreading? I would imagine the oxidation speed to be really fast in a matured reef tank, for both versions of nitrogen

I do not know if those levels are accurate.

The Hanna Saltwater Aquarium Ultra Low Range Nitrite Colorimeter –Checker HC HI764 claims to have uncertainty of +/- 10 ppb (0.01 ppm). So 0.006 ppm is well within the claimed uncertainty of measurement, even if the actual value is actually 0.0000000000 ppm.

http://hannainst.com/hi764-nitrite-ulr-for-marine.html

 

[Waters]

Nitrite is just not toxic in a reef tank (unlike freshwater systems) and no reef tank ever has toxic levels that I have ever seen. It would take many, many ppm.

Wow...I never knew that. Every time I come on this forum I learn something new

 

[Preme]

No that level nitrite is perfectly fine. I wouldn't worry about it or try to lower it (unless you really want to ). Personally when some one says zero i think it means as low as you can get it and as close to zero as possible in your system. If you know you can get it to 0 I'd aim for it in the future. Are your levels going to harm anything no, as mentioned above it's more for freshwater aquariums than salt water.

 

[jhatfield]

If I understand this correctly nitrite measurement isn't of great value with an established system, at least compared with ammonia, nitrate, alk, etc..

Does this change the way the progress of a newly established aquarium cycle is measured? Does this change the timing of livestock additions to a new tank?

 

[brandon429]

http://reef2reef.com/threads/new-ta...d-cocktail-shrimp-live-rock-no-shrimp.214618/

In my opinion that relates to your thread. The acceptable start date in our practice is anytime ammonia digestion can be verified, no other param required to know.

We simply stop measuring the other two because all cycling charts show nitrite compliance when ammonia complies, and nitrate is a given when ammonia complies though it varies in accumulation amounts based on starting nitrogen input levels (ammonia by whatever method) and some biological processes that may or may not lower it in a given system.

It's much easier to cycle an aquarium using one single parameter- ammonia

 

[Resendes Reef]

Looks like I should've saved my money and bought an ammonia tester instead of the nitrite checker.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If I understand this correctly nitrite measurement isn't of great value with an established system, at least compared with ammonia, nitrate, alk, etc..

Does this change the way the progress of a newly established aquarium cycle is measured? Does this change the timing of livestock additions to a new tank?

It is not useful to monitor, in my opinion.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Wow...I never knew that. Every time I come on this forum I learn something new

Thanks. Happy reefing.