Nitrites .... Toxin or not.

thegyft07 · 01/10/2009, 12:36 PM

I have had several hobbiest tell me to stop testing nitrites and some thatsay keep doing so. I am not sure who to believe.

They havn't truly gone down and the tanks beencycling since 11/20/2008. I thought that they would of done so by now, but they have only decreases with 10 % wc's.

can fish survive with them present or are they toxic like i thought?

jasonrp104 · 01/10/2009, 12:45 PM

Nitrites, not Nitrates? I'd think they would be gone by now

kurquhart1 · 01/10/2009, 01:22 PM

they should be gone, but yes NITRITE is toxic. i capped that so you didnt get confused with nitrate.

LulusMoogle · 01/10/2009, 02:11 PM

Both nitrates and nitrites are toxic to fish. But nitrites are moreso. Nitrates allow for some room, though the less the better. Generally, nitrates above 20ppm are considered stressful and a little high.

Your tank should be well cycled by now. I'd test for nitrates (and nitrites, if that'd make you feel more comfortable about it) and see where you are there.

phil519 · 01/10/2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LulusMoogle
Both nitrates and nitrites are toxic to fish. But nitrites are moreso. Nitrates allow for some room, though the less the better. Generally, nitrates above 20ppm are considered stressful and a little high.

Your tank should be well cycled by now. I'd test for nitrates (and nitrites, if that'd make you feel more comfortable about it) and see where you are there.

Not entirely true. FO or FOWLR tanks can easily run nitrates much higher than 20ppm.

Back to topic.

If your tank is showing nitrites - your tank has not completed cycling. Adding fish would be cruel and stressful to them at this point.

sunfish11 · 01/10/2009, 02:43 PM

mis-post

thegyft07 · 01/12/2009, 12:14 PM

okay thanks you guys... woke upthis morning and everything was 0.

seapug · 01/12/2009, 12:27 PM

Frequent testing for Nitrite (and ammonia) isn't really necessary after the tank has cycled because the aerobic bacterial populations consume them so quickly. If you are having a mass die-off of fish and inverts, it might be worth testing for it but otherwise, Nitrate levels will generally be the only biofiltration-related parameter that really needs to be monitored.

thegyft07 · 01/12/2009, 12:31 PM

Thanks I really appreciate it. any extra tips on keeping everythinglow besides WC's.

seapug · 01/12/2009, 12:48 PM

live rock, live sand, a refugium, proper fish stocking, and time are your best methods for keeping everything low. If Nitrates become a problem that can't be managed through water changes alone, there are various methods out there you can use but need to be carefully managed.

thegyft07 · 01/12/2009, 01:19 PM

Thanks I would like to put something in my cannister that reduces them for a long period. Right now I've been using algone. 1 pouch per 7 Days. comes with like 6 I think so thats 42 days. Do you know of anything else thats good.

01/10/2009, 12:36 PM	#1
thegyft07 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 241	Nitrites .... Toxin or not. I have had several hobbiest tell me to stop testing nitrites and some thatsay keep doing so. I am not sure who to believe. They havn't truly gone down and the tanks beencycling since 11/20/2008. I thought that they would of done so by now, but they have only decreases with 10 % wc's. can fish survive with them present or are they toxic like i thought? __________________ TheGyft07 Current Tank Info: 120 gal, W/sump, seaclone skimmer, bulk reef ro/di 75 gal unit. Reef aquarium. Peaceful tank. 5 ft t5 ho lights.

01/10/2009, 02:43 PM	#6
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	mis-post Last edited by sunfish11; 01/10/2009 at 02:58 PM.

01/12/2009, 12:14 PM	#7
thegyft07 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 241	okay thanks you guys... woke upthis morning and everything was 0. __________________ TheGyft07 Current Tank Info: 120 gal, W/sump, seaclone skimmer, bulk reef ro/di 75 gal unit. Reef aquarium. Peaceful tank. 5 ft t5 ho lights.

01/12/2009, 12:27 PM	#8
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Frequent testing for Nitrite (and ammonia) isn't really necessary after the tank has cycled because the aerobic bacterial populations consume them so quickly. If you are having a mass die-off of fish and inverts, it might be worth testing for it but otherwise, Nitrate levels will generally be the only biofiltration-related parameter that really needs to be monitored. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

01/12/2009, 12:31 PM	#9
thegyft07 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 241	Thanks I really appreciate it. any extra tips on keeping everythinglow besides WC's. __________________ TheGyft07 Current Tank Info: 120 gal, W/sump, seaclone skimmer, bulk reef ro/di 75 gal unit. Reef aquarium. Peaceful tank. 5 ft t5 ho lights.

01/10/2009, 12:45 PM	#2
jasonrp104 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: vt Posts: 1,113	Nitrites, not Nitrates? I'd think they would be gone by now

01/10/2009, 01:22 PM	#3
kurquhart1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: hamilton ontario canada Posts: 141	they should be gone, but yes NITRITE is toxic. i capped that so you didnt get confused with nitrate.

01/10/2009, 02:11 PM	#4
LulusMoogle Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 370	Both nitrates and nitrites are toxic to fish. But nitrites are moreso. Nitrates allow for some room, though the less the better. Generally, nitrates above 20ppm are considered stressful and a little high. Your tank should be well cycled by now. I'd test for nitrates (and nitrites, if that'd make you feel more comfortable about it) and see where you are there.

01/12/2009, 12:48 PM	#10
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	live rock, live sand, a refugium, proper fish stocking, and time are your best methods for keeping everything low. If Nitrates become a problem that can't be managed through water changes alone, there are various methods out there you can use but need to be carefully managed. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

01/12/2009, 01:19 PM	#11
thegyft07 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 241	Thanks I would like to put something in my cannister that reduces them for a long period. Right now I've been using algone. 1 pouch per 7 Days. comes with like 6 I think so thats 42 days. Do you know of anything else thats good. __________________ TheGyft07 Current Tank Info: 120 gal, W/sump, seaclone skimmer, bulk reef ro/di 75 gal unit. Reef aquarium. Peaceful tank. 5 ft t5 ho lights.