Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board  

Go Back   Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board > General > FOWLR

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-02-2013, 08:49 AM
cbrine cbrine is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: airdrie
Posts: 71
cbrine is on a distinguished road
Default Increased nitrite in QT

So I have a 10gal QT with a sponge and ceramic bio cylinder type material in the filter (was running a week or so in my DT so help jump start the bacteria prior to putting it on my QT). I test my water daily and cycled tank with water from my DT. Water changes done weekly with freshly mixed water. About a week or so after setting up purchased chromis, a firefish and a diamond goby. Only lost one chromis to abuse? Otherwise the rest look well. I noticed end of last week my nitrite levels have been increasing but everything else remains good.
Temp:74, sal:1.025, kh: 8, ca:360, no3:0, ph:8.4, PO:0, nh:0
I was doing 10% changes daily which did nothing and then started doing 50% daily still with no major drop. I feed once a day of flake food. Tank is all glass with a few plastic pipe pieces that was boiled to sterilize. Anyone have any tips to help reduce my nitrite? After my water change (50%) I got 0.25. Help?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-02-2013, 11:28 AM
Aquattro's Avatar
Aquattro Aquattro is offline
Just a guy..
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Victoria, BC
Posts: 18,053
Aquattro is a jewel in the roughAquattro is a jewel in the roughAquattro is a jewel in the roughAquattro is a jewel in the rough
Default

If there was no change at all after a 50% change, I'd try another test kit.
__________________
Brad
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-04-2013, 09:00 PM
tang daddy's Avatar
tang daddy tang daddy is offline
Likes to play with Fish
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Richmond
Posts: 1,482
tang daddy is on a distinguished road
Default

Also if you're talking about nitrite then it's probally cycling, since you should only be reading nitrate with fish in the qt. I believe nitrite is not good for fish. You should run a hob filter to help speed the cycle.
__________________
Always looking for the next best coral...

90g starphire cube/400mhRadium20k/2 XHO/2x27w UV/2x39w T5/ 3 Trulumen led strips
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-04-2013, 09:06 PM
cbrine cbrine is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: airdrie
Posts: 71
cbrine is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tang daddy View Post
Also if you're talking about nitrite then it's probally cycling, since you should only be reading nitrate with fish in the qt. I believe nitrite is not good for fish. You should run a hob filter to help speed the cycle.
Yeah I am currently running a AC30 with the carbon removed and just the foam and the bio ceramic type material. Had it running on my DT for a week prior to putting it on my QT. will go grab a new test kit and see what my reading comes back at. Until then, daily 1-5g changes
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-04-2013, 11:12 PM
George George is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Coquitlam,BC
Posts: 527
George is on a distinguished road
Default

I wouldn't worry about nitrite or nitrate in a fish only QT. Nitrite/Nitrate are not toxic to marine fish unless the level is very high(>100ppm).
IMO you should monitor ammonia regularly in a QT. Get a good ammonia test kit and/or seachem ammonia badge.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-05-2013, 08:00 AM
hillegom hillegom is online now
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1,990
hillegom is on a distinguished road
Default

+1 on the ammonia badge. I use two in my tank transfer method of QT
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-08-2013, 04:44 PM
cbrine cbrine is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: airdrie
Posts: 71
cbrine is on a distinguished road
Default

Already got the ammonia badge going.... Which is showing "safe" and my API test is showing 0. My nitrite is still .50-1, LFS recommended some
Bottled stuff (Prime and bio boost) so lets see how this works...
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-08-2013, 05:39 PM
Myka's Avatar
Myka Myka is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Saskatoon, SK.
Posts: 11,268
Myka will become famous soon enough
Default

The Ammonia Alerts works really well, but don't rely on them for an actual reading. I've found the measurements they show are often 1/10th of the actual amount of ammonia in the water. Best practice is to dose an ammonia detoxifier as soon as you see ANY color change on the alert.

Quote:
Originally Posted by George View Post
I wouldn't worry about nitrite or nitrate in a fish only QT. Nitrite/Nitrate are not toxic to marine fish unless the level is very high(>100ppm).
This is correct. Nitrite is not toxic in saltwater like it is in freshwater = even for (most) invertebrates.

You currently have enough bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrite, but the bacteria that convert nitrite to nitrate are not abundant enough. Just keep monitoring ammonia.
__________________
~ Mindy

SPS fanatic.

Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-08-2013, 07:01 PM
DigitalWeight DigitalWeight is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Calgary
Posts: 124
DigitalWeight is on a distinguished road
Default

Here is a good article on nitrite in a reef:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/

As has been said, nitrite is not as toxic as in fresh. I am quarantining right now (first time for me) and have been watching ammonia real close. Nitrite and Nitrate are higher in my qt tank - seems to be going ok so far.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:15 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.