Critically high Nitrite in QT. Help!

SS_Sean · 02/18/2014, 05:57 PM

I have had a 10g QT set up and have been bringing the salinity down over the last week. I'm now at 1.010, almost there! The ph, nitrate and ammonia are good, but the nitrite has continued to be critically high at 5.0-10. The fish appear fine, healthy, are moving about freely and eating.

The tank is made up of a 10g, with a HOB filter, two pvc 'T's, a little bit of sand in the bottom (I scooped out as much as I could about a week ago), and two live rocks. I just put a bag of ceramic rights in there to promote a better bio filter underneath the HOB in the tank.

Based on my reading today I put a cap full of Prime in there to try and knock this nitrite level down, and pulled the charcoal out of the filter to ensure the treatment stayed in the water. I checked the nitrite again a while later and there was no changes.

At this point I'm at a loss...

Kyle918 · 02/18/2014, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS_Sean

I have had a 10g QT set up and have been bringing the salinity down over the last week. I'm now at 1.010, almost there! The ph, nitrate and ammonia are good, but the nitrite has continued to be critically high at 5.0-10. The fish appear fine, healthy, are moving about freely and eating.

The tank is made up of a 10g, with a HOB filter, two pvc 'T's, a little bit of sand in the bottom (I scooped out as much as I could about a week ago), and two live rocks. I just put a bag of ceramic rights in there to promote a better bio filter underneath the HOB in the tank.

Based on my reading today I put a cap full of Prime in there to try and knock this nitrite level down, and pulled the charcoal out of the filter to ensure the treatment stayed in the water. I checked the nitrite again a while later and there was no changes.

At this point I'm at a loss...

If your signature is correct, that is a lot of fish in a single 10 gallon QT. It seems like you are starting a cycling. Nitrites of 5-10ppm shouldn't harm the fish though, at least not marine fish. My concern is the ammonia rising...why are you bringing the salinity down though?

SS_Sean · 02/18/2014, 06:16 PM

Quarantine for ICH... bad case, too. We have two tanks fallow, and began drawing down the salinity about a week ago. Tonight I'll have the spec gravity spot on at 1.009. The fish are all juvenile except the lawnmower, and he's about 2.5 inches long. I didn't figure we were over the limit on the tank, but right at the line.

The ammonia has been great at 0.0 - 0.25, but I've been doing plenty of water changes to keep up, not over-feeding, and trying to promote bio with the two live rocks, and rings. If you're okay with the 5.0-10.0 then I wont sweat it. I want to stay on top of this...

whosurcaddie · 02/18/2014, 06:55 PM

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

Nitrite is not toxic to marine fish. Flame suit activated.

SS_Sean · 02/18/2014, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whosurcaddie

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

Nitrite is not toxic to marine fish. Flame suit activated.

Wow... great article. Okay, I'll sit back and stop worrying about it. Ammonia looks great, ph, and alk looks great. Thanks.

DjScRiBbLe · 02/18/2014, 07:14 PM

I wouldn't call .25 ammonia great. Zero is great

.

SS_Sean · 02/18/2014, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DjScRiBbLe

I wouldn't call .25 ammonia great. Zero is great

.

Your contribution to the topic is stunningly informative.

DjScRiBbLe · 02/18/2014, 07:22 PM

I know. Usually I charge for my advice so your welcome

SS_Sean · 02/18/2014, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DjScRiBbLe

I know. Usually I charge for my advice so your welcome

ca1ore · 02/19/2014, 10:16 AM

Fully concur that QT tank should be managed for ammonia, not nitrates!

SS_Sean · 02/19/2014, 10:47 AM

tyvm

snorvich · 02/19/2014, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whosurcaddie

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

Nitrite is not toxic to marine fish. Flame suit activated.

True, but it is indicative of ammonia being recently present.

MrTuskfish · 02/19/2014, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snorvich

True, but it is indicative of ammonia being recently present.

True II. All of the CW regarding nitrite in SW has changed over the last several years. I don't even test for nitrite or nitrate in my QT. A bad nitrite test kit is a possibility. Do a significant water change, if the nitrate test doesn't show the expected drop, its defective. Nitrite in your source water is highly unlikely.

Worry about the ammonia, sick fish won't tolerate ammonia at .25 for long.

swk · 02/19/2014, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whosurcaddie

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

Nitrite is not toxic to marine fish. Flame suit activated.

Thanks for the link. Coming from the fw side of the hobby, I was tripping out when my tank was at .25ppm. I'll sleep alot better at night now and will leave the tank alone and let it work through some things w/o worrying about destroying my inhabitants

bnumair · 02/19/2014, 03:36 PM

under 40ppm on nitrites i wouldnt worry at all. But do keep close eye on ammonia.

SS_Sean · 02/19/2014, 04:09 PM

Thanks, guys.

Cozwey · 02/19/2014, 10:24 PM

Hey Sean and Hello Mike.
Hope the Nitrite issue is going in the right direction.

SS_Sean · 02/19/2014, 11:20 PM

All good. 0.0 on ammonia after a 3 gallon water change and didn't pay attention to nitrites.

02/18/2014, 05:57 PM	#1
SS_Sean Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: OR Posts: 669	Critically high Nitrite in QT. Help! I have had a 10g QT set up and have been bringing the salinity down over the last week. I'm now at 1.010, almost there! The ph, nitrate and ammonia are good, but the nitrite has continued to be critically high at 5.0-10. The fish appear fine, healthy, are moving about freely and eating. The tank is made up of a 10g, with a HOB filter, two pvc 'T's, a little bit of sand in the bottom (I scooped out as much as I could about a week ago), and two live rocks. I just put a bag of ceramic rights in there to promote a better bio filter underneath the HOB in the tank. Based on my reading today I put a cap full of Prime in there to try and knock this nitrite level down, and pulled the charcoal out of the filter to ensure the treatment stayed in the water. I checked the nitrite again a while later and there was no changes. At this point I'm at a loss... __________________ 170g DT + 300g sump/fuge + 60g algae tank = 530g system.

02/18/2014, 06:16 PM	#3
SS_Sean Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: OR Posts: 669	Quarantine for ICH... bad case, too. We have two tanks fallow, and began drawing down the salinity about a week ago. Tonight I'll have the spec gravity spot on at 1.009. The fish are all juvenile except the lawnmower, and he's about 2.5 inches long. I didn't figure we were over the limit on the tank, but right at the line. The ammonia has been great at 0.0 - 0.25, but I've been doing plenty of water changes to keep up, not over-feeding, and trying to promote bio with the two live rocks, and rings. If you're okay with the 5.0-10.0 then I wont sweat it. I want to stay on top of this... __________________ 170g DT + 300g sump/fuge + 60g algae tank = 530g system.

02/19/2014, 10:16 AM	#10
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Fully concur that QT tank should be managed for ammonia, not nitrates! __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

02/19/2014, 10:47 AM	#11
SS_Sean Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: OR Posts: 669	tyvm __________________ 170g DT + 300g sump/fuge + 60g algae tank = 530g system.

02/19/2014, 03:36 PM	#15
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	under 40ppm on nitrites i wouldnt worry at all. But do keep close eye on ammonia. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

02/18/2014, 06:55 PM	#4
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.php Nitrite is not toxic to marine fish. Flame suit activated.

02/18/2014, 07:14 PM	#6
DjScRiBbLe Moved On Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 132	I wouldn't call .25 ammonia great. Zero is great .

02/18/2014, 07:22 PM	#8
DjScRiBbLe Moved On Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 132	I know. Usually I charge for my advice so your welcome

02/19/2014, 04:09 PM	#16
SS_Sean Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: OR Posts: 669	Thanks, guys. __________________ 170g DT + 300g sump/fuge + 60g algae tank = 530g system.

02/19/2014, 10:24 PM	#17
Cozwey Go Canada!!!! Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Posts: 363 Blog Entries: 1	Hey Sean and Hello Mike. Hope the Nitrite issue is going in the right direction. __________________ QT, Go Slow, Read the Stickies People!!!! Current Tank Info: 120g FOWLR, 55 Perm QT, Full Apex, Kessil, Reef Octo, MP40's, MP10's, Plumbed ATO, BRS 2 part dosing.

02/19/2014, 11:20 PM	#18
SS_Sean Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: OR Posts: 669	All good. 0.0 on ammonia after a 3 gallon water change and didn't pay attention to nitrites. __________________ 170g DT + 300g sump/fuge + 60g algae tank = 530g system.