Nitrites in new tank?

madmatt357 · #1 02/10/2007, 06:48 PM

I have recently set up a new 90 gallon tank. Since it has been set up I have been taking my water to my LFS for testing about every five days. This past Thursday they told me my Nitrites have come down a whole lot, but there is still a trace. My LFS did not tell me what the levels were. My question is: is there anything I can do to help the Nitrites come down or will they come down on their own?

littlemannin · #2 02/10/2007, 07:04 PM

Your live rock should take care of it.To be honest with you I don't even test for NO2. I just test NO3 which is the next step in the cycle. In a perfect world it should be zero, but with FOWLR you can get away with more. How long has the tank been up?

madmatt357 · #3 02/10/2007, 07:11 PM

The tank is going on about two weeks set up. The live rock was cured when I put it in. I only have about 25-30 lbs live rock with about 30lbs of base. All other tests are normal except the Nitrite. I just don't want to add fish to the system with the Nitrite level being slightly elevated.

littlemannin · #4 02/10/2007, 07:15 PM

Tell you what I will test mine now and let you know.

madmatt357 · #5 02/10/2007, 07:16 PM

Thanks!!

crumbletop · #6 02/10/2007, 07:21 PM

I wouldn't put any fish in until the cycle is over. The cycle will be over when your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are all 0.

littlemannin · #7 02/10/2007, 07:22 PM

survey says...ding ...zero.

littlemannin · #8 02/10/2007, 07:24 PM

Its kinda funny that I even have a NO2 test kit. I ordered it wrong last week. Its a nice test though. Salifert. But after reading the instructions, you don't want to add any fish yet!

madmatt357 · #9 02/10/2007, 07:25 PM

Thanks littlemannin!
Hopefully mine will be down to zero in the next week.
Is there anything I can do to help reduce the level in my tank? Or do I just let the cycle run its course?

crumbletop · #10 02/10/2007, 07:29 PM

You need to let it run its course. The bacteria levels are building up to the levels needed to process the nitrogen out of the system. Give it a couple of weeks more, and you should be in good shape.

madmatt357 · #11 02/10/2007, 07:30 PM

Is this going to happen everytime I add more "cured" live rock?

littlemannin · #12 02/10/2007, 07:34 PM

It may a little but by that time you should have enough bacteria to handle it. Just remember the key to this hobby is patience. So don't add a lot of anything at once. The only things that happen fast are usualy bad things.

madmatt357 · #13 02/10/2007, 07:39 PM

My snails, hermits and star fish seem to be doing fine. Since I don't have alot of live rock, do I need to place a small amount of food in the tank for the hermits and star fish to eat until I can stock my tank? And when adding the cured live rock, should I add a little at a time, or can I go ahead and add the other fifty pounds without worry?

littlemannin · #14 02/10/2007, 07:48 PM

Since your cycling you should be OK. The crabs and stuff will eat the dead stuff off the rock. I think you may want to put the rest of the rock now and get the cycle over with. Even with the cured rock you will have die off which is going to cycle.

madmatt357 · #15 02/10/2007, 07:50 PM

Thanks for all the help. I will get the remainder of the live rock this week, and go ahead and get the cycle over with and not have to worry about killing anything off once I add more rock.