Nitrite

saleen281 · 04/03/2010, 02:51 PM

HELLO i was testing my water today and my nitrite is at 25ppm is that bad? how can i lower it i already did a 15 gallon wc.is this why i have lost 2 fish?

serpentman · 04/03/2010, 03:05 PM

Unlike FW, I believe Nitrite is relatively harmless to marine fish. However, since its an intermediate stage in the Nitrogen cycle, it indicates that there is also an Ammonia source which is probably what is killing your fish.

I suspect you have a mini-cycle going on which is probably perpetuated by the die off. I would be doing lots of water changes until it passes.

dwd5813 · 04/03/2010, 03:13 PM

25 or .25 ? nitrite is far less toxic to marine fishes than freshwaters but it's still an indication of a problem in the nitrification capabilities of your system.

saleen281 · 04/03/2010, 03:38 PM

so all i should do is water changes? how many gallons its a 90 gallon tank?

GOLFREEFER · 04/03/2010, 05:22 PM

How old is the tank, and how much biological filtering do you have. Either the tank is still cycling or something is decaying or there is not enough Live rock for the tank.

Doing water changes will not really solve the problem and it may not even help.

04/03/2010, 02:51 PM	#1
saleen281 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 23	Nitrite HELLO i was testing my water today and my nitrite is at 25ppm is that bad? how can i lower it i already did a 15 gallon wc.is this why i have lost 2 fish?

04/03/2010, 03:05 PM	#2
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	Unlike FW, I believe Nitrite is relatively harmless to marine fish. However, since its an intermediate stage in the Nitrogen cycle, it indicates that there is also an Ammonia source which is probably what is killing your fish. I suspect you have a mini-cycle going on which is probably perpetuated by the die off. I would be doing lots of water changes until it passes. __________________ BS in Marine Bio ('96), First SW tank in 1992. Current Tank(s) 300g SPS with 90g frag tank and 40 anemone tank - decommissioned 46g LPS/Softy Cube 300g FOWLR under construction - decommissioned

04/03/2010, 03:13 PM	#3
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	25 or .25 ? nitrite is far less toxic to marine fishes than freshwaters but it's still an indication of a problem in the nitrification capabilities of your system. __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm

04/03/2010, 03:38 PM	#4
saleen281 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 23	so all i should do is water changes? how many gallons its a 90 gallon tank?

04/03/2010, 05:22 PM	#5
GOLFREEFER Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In a house, in a city, In the USA Posts: 80	How old is the tank, and how much biological filtering do you have. Either the tank is still cycling or something is decaying or there is not enough Live rock for the tank. Doing water changes will not really solve the problem and it may not even help.