nitrate

mucsles916 · 05/26/2009, 11:37 PM

if my nitrate is at 0. should i be tresting for nitrite,and ammonia?

LoyalConvict · 05/26/2009, 11:55 PM

how long has the tank been set up? if its a recent setup the nitrogen cycle may not have reached that point yet.

EDIT: hit enter by mistake, but when i check my params. i usually go with a dip stick that checks all 3 and if it reads above "normal" i then use salifert to see what the situation is....guess i didnt really answer your question

Josh72836G · 05/27/2009, 12:17 AM

If the tanks pretty new (less than three months old), you should check ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. As LoyalConvict said if the tanks new, any ammonia and nitrite may not have been converted to nitrate.

How old is the tank? Knowing that we can give you more specific information.

LoyalConvict: Where did you find a strip that does all three? The ones I normally see have ammonia on a separate strip.

~Josh

LoyalConvict · 05/27/2009, 12:23 AM

sorry i didnt clarify, i use life guard 5 way for NO2 and NO3 and the seperate one for ammonia

and again sorry for any confusion

NorthDakotaReef · 05/27/2009, 12:31 AM

I have a 90 gallon reef tank that has been cycling for 2 monsths now. My nitrites and ammonia read at 0. My nitrates read at 20 ppm. I have a reef cleaner package. 45 pieces in all. I am soon to add another 45 pieces this weekend. Do I need to begin doing light water changes weekly? Or do I let my cleaners go to work and start after a week of them doing their job?

rort · 05/27/2009, 01:48 AM

you should be doing lite water changes since the start of your tank. You ideally want your params to be at 0 which is achievable but very hard... I am struggling to get my nitrates down from your same level.

The cleaners are a great additive but I am pretty sure that with that many cleaners and no fish in your system and no feeding, that a lot of them will not make it but should help with removal of detritus.

if you levels are staying consistently low and you really have let it cycle for 2 months then I am sure you are ready for small additions of fish.

tatmanfish · 05/27/2009, 01:53 AM

agree...water changes and keep checking all 3. sometimes you may have a spike for no apparent reason. if your on top of testing you can catch it early.

05/26/2009, 11:37 PM	#1
mucsles916 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 131	nitrate if my nitrate is at 0. should i be tresting for nitrite,and ammonia? __________________ mucsles916

05/26/2009, 11:55 PM	#2
LoyalConvict Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 468	how long has the tank been set up? if its a recent setup the nitrogen cycle may not have reached that point yet. EDIT: hit enter by mistake, but when i check my params. i usually go with a dip stick that checks all 3 and if it reads above "normal" i then use salifert to see what the situation is....guess i didnt really answer your question __________________ Contemplating sushifried I Have - Ichthyophobia, Hydrophobia, Hyalophobia, and Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia Current Tank Info: 90 Reef, 55 fuge - 75 FOWLR 30 fuge

05/27/2009, 12:17 AM	#3
Josh72836G Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Seaside, California Posts: 61	If the tanks pretty new (less than three months old), you should check ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. As LoyalConvict said if the tanks new, any ammonia and nitrite may not have been converted to nitrate. How old is the tank? Knowing that we can give you more specific information. LoyalConvict: Where did you find a strip that does all three? The ones I normally see have ammonia on a separate strip. ~Josh __________________ "Oh but nothing beats cantaloupe with a little palytoxin spread on it." -emm0909 Current Tank Info: 60G with 20G sump

05/27/2009, 12:23 AM	#4
LoyalConvict Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 468	sorry i didnt clarify, i use life guard 5 way for NO2 and NO3 and the seperate one for ammonia and again sorry for any confusion __________________ Contemplating sushifried I Have - Ichthyophobia, Hydrophobia, Hyalophobia, and Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia Current Tank Info: 90 Reef, 55 fuge - 75 FOWLR 30 fuge

05/27/2009, 01:48 AM	#6
rort Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 1,934	you should be doing lite water changes since the start of your tank. You ideally want your params to be at 0 which is achievable but very hard... I am struggling to get my nitrates down from your same level. The cleaners are a great additive but I am pretty sure that with that many cleaners and no fish in your system and no feeding, that a lot of them will not make it but should help with removal of detritus. if you levels are staying consistently low and you really have let it cycle for 2 months then I am sure you are ready for small additions of fish. __________________ Bobby Current Tank Info: Aquanano 60

05/27/2009, 12:31 AM	#5
NorthDakotaReef Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fargo Posts: 10	I have a 90 gallon reef tank that has been cycling for 2 monsths now. My nitrites and ammonia read at 0. My nitrates read at 20 ppm. I have a reef cleaner package. 45 pieces in all. I am soon to add another 45 pieces this weekend. Do I need to begin doing light water changes weekly? Or do I let my cleaners go to work and start after a week of them doing their job?

05/27/2009, 01:53 AM	#7
tatmanfish Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 54	agree...water changes and keep checking all 3. sometimes you may have a spike for no apparent reason. if your on top of testing you can catch it early.