Nitrite is elevated need pointers..

[silly34]

I recently posted about what kind of test kit to get. Well I've ordered a salifert but during the mean time I got a Marine Lab so I could go ahead and test. My old test kit is about a year old now, Aquairum Pharmeceuticals (sp?). Anyhow I tested the nitrite the other night and it was .1ppm tested today after a water change and it is around .3ppm!

I retested with the Aquarium Phar. test kit and it shows elevated nitrite as well. I tested the new saltwater mix and it read perfect for everything (IO, RODI) I did clean my sump couple of days ago and removed a good bit of the fabric like mesh. Could it be that I removed too much of the biological type filtration, I use bioballs as well? Kinda at a loss here, everything looks happy in the tank so far but I am trying my darndest to get the water quality perfect.

Anyhow I am doing another water change to help curve this.

B.

 

[Anonymous]

I think those values are relatively low. I think during cycles with limited added plant life my nitrItes bumped up to 8ppm for a day or two.

I would just wait a day to see if they come down.

If not then stop adding food to the system until they start to come down.

or add plant life like macros to consume the ammonia and therefore prevent the nitrIted from forming.

But basically it sounds like this is a temporary condition that will correct in a day ot two.

 

[silly34]

Ok thanks, Iadded some macroalgea couple of weeks ago and currently my ammonia levels are about .15 or so. I've done the water change and will retest tommorow.

B.

 

[Anonymous]

I think you're ok. my ammonia tests at .25ppm or lowest reading on the aquarium pharm***** test kit. Yet things are fine.

 

[Len]

How old is this tank? I've never been able to get any nitrite or ammonia readings after the tank is matured (except if something major dies). But during the first few months, nitrite and ammonia would periodically spike a little.

 

[silly34]

The tank is about 2 years. Currently everything looks great, other than a spot on the Goniopora which isn't really coming out. My condy is getting huge all of my zoo's are spreading like weeks, coraline is growing throughout the tank. Dunno I just want the water perfect! Arrgghhh!

B.

 

[Len]

If everything looks fine, don't worry about it. Chasing idealized numbers can often do more harm then good.

 

[silly34]

Here is a download of my log..

http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=69292

B.

 

[ChrisRD]

We just had some recent discussion on nitrite in another thread here and apparently it's not all that toxic in seawater. Randy just did an article on it too:

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

 

[silly34]

Well things have not improved. As of today trites show as .5/.6 ppm I have done 2 water changes so far and am going to get more RODI water shortly. I believe this is all because I removed too much fiber filter pads when I cleaned the sump. Now I have to wait to build up more nitrifying bacteria! This sound right? Ammonia is around .15ppm and had 2 snails die today, and my Kenya tree is shrivled (past 2 days). Damn damn damn.

B.

 

[ChrisRD]

Can you describe your setup a bit more? For example - size of the system, what's in it, what you use for filtration, etc...

 

[silly34]

125g tank, 10g sump, 1 15k 175w MH and 1 10k 175w MH, 2 96w 03 Actinitc. Zoos, button polyps, shrooms, condy anemone, eel. Nothing spectacular. Have a wet/dry used for filtration, pre filters on the overflow. Didn't have any problems until I removed the old filter floss pads, just should removed one at a time to let the bacteria colonize the new floss pad. Lesson learned. Everything in the tank looks health and open other than the kenya tree which is still a little shriveled. Did another water change and will test later today. 10k MH bulb is being replaced w/ a 15k Tuesday.

B.

 

[ChrisRD]

Any live rock or sand in the tank? Do you use a skimmer?

 

[silly34]

LR and Sand, as well as a skimmer. Skims just fine and the LR/Sand have been in the tank for about 2 years now.

Kenya tree is coming back out and everything still looks good. Will be retesting the water later today.

B.