Help with Nitrites?

drillsar · 08/28/2006, 10:01 PM

I cant seem to get it to 0, never. I use ro/di water my TDS shows 12 I know it should be better but I think I need either a better RO system or a better membrane.

My nitrites are always 10 ppm and never can get under that, I change 20gals per week.

I have a 55gal tank with 100lbs of Rock in it, 45lbs of Fiji and 55lbs of Base Rock and I have been running since January this tank.

Im thinking maybe its my source water? Im going to try perhaps to buy 10gal distilled water and try that will that work?

Im so lost and getting fustrated on this.

D-Rod · 08/28/2006, 10:05 PM

Could be your test kit?
Try another one or have your LFS test it for you.

BurntOutReefer · 08/28/2006, 10:07 PM

nitrites or nitrates?

bertoni · 08/28/2006, 11:04 PM

If your RO-DI water is still reading 12ppm, I'd address that first. What's the TDS of your tapwater? Maybe the DI cartridges or membrane are shot.

mg426 · 08/29/2006, 01:30 AM

Have you tested your source water for nitrates?? Might be part of your problem.

unimike · 08/29/2006, 01:39 AM

10ppm of nitrates is not too bad and if it is over 20 then you should get worried IMO

08/28/2006, 10:01 PM	#1
drillsar Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Orange, NJ Posts: 2,838	Help with Nitrites? I cant seem to get it to 0, never. I use ro/di water my TDS shows 12 I know it should be better but I think I need either a better RO system or a better membrane. My nitrites are always 10 ppm and never can get under that, I change 20gals per week. I have a 55gal tank with 100lbs of Rock in it, 45lbs of Fiji and 55lbs of Base Rock and I have been running since January this tank. Im thinking maybe its my source water? Im going to try perhaps to buy 10gal distilled water and try that will that work? Im so lost and getting fustrated on this.

08/28/2006, 10:05 PM	#2
D-Rod Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Paso Robles, Ca Posts: 1,020	Could be your test kit? Try another one or have your LFS test it for you. __________________ The Vino Man - I Trade With Wine...Just Ask! Current Tank Info: Small Tank, Lights, Fish; Tangs a whole bunch, 4 False Perculas, 6 rose anemones Mixed Reef.

08/28/2006, 11:04 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If your RO-DI water is still reading 12ppm, I'd address that first. What's the TDS of your tapwater? Maybe the DI cartridges or membrane are shot. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/29/2006, 01:30 AM	#5
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Have you tested your source water for nitrates?? Might be part of your problem. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

08/28/2006, 10:07 PM	#3
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	nitrites or nitrates?

08/29/2006, 01:39 AM	#6
unimike Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Whittier, CA Posts: 234	10ppm of nitrates is not too bad and if it is over 20 then you should get worried IMO