Nitrites won't go down - PLEASE HELP!

CS95 · 02/28/2018, 12:27 PM

Hi, I recent purchased a Red Sea Max Nano 75L and am 40 days into my fishless cycle. I have around 4KG of live rock and live sand substrate. I'm using the Red Sea Reef Mature Pro Kit to cycle my marine aquarium.

Current parameters:

Salinity: 35ppt
PH: 8.2
KH: 9
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0.05ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
Temperature: 26-27 celcius (now 28.9)

My ammonia was at 0 by day 10 of the cycle and has remained at 0 since. The issue I am having is that my nitrite has been stuck on 0.05 for the last 2 weeks. My nitrates have been between 5 & 10 for the last two weeks.

I've read that it takes a long time for nitrites to hit 0 but is it normal to have no movement for 2 weeks? It had previously dropped down from about 1 ppm in 2 weeks preceding.

I had previously been doing 10% water changes weekly but when the nitrites stalled, I left it for about 10 days to see if it would sort itself out to no result. The past 2 days, i have performed 10% water changes daily to see if that would help which it hasn't. I read that increasing the water temp to 84f (28.9 celcius) helps reduce nitrites so raised the water temperature yesterday. Still 0.05 when i tested a moment ago.

Any suggestion or similar experiences?!

bertoni · 03/01/2018, 09:22 PM

That level is safe for animals, so I'd ignore it. It might be a bit of testing error. I had a tank that measured a trace of nitrite for months, though.

ajoe · 03/02/2018, 10:11 PM

Cycle seems to be progressing just fine. Leave it alone and give it another 4-6 weeks. No two tanks are alike and all cycle differently. The nitrites will go away in time. Just don't rush anything and be patient. A year from now you will have this all behind you and on to other challenges. Nature of the hobby.

ramseynb · 03/02/2018, 10:18 PM

I would double check your test kit. Take some water to the LFS store and see if they'll test it for you. Every tank's different, but every tank I've cycled, nitrites were the quickest to go. I'd also consider what bertoni said. I had ordered some live stock online one time and thought my tank was fully cycled (ordered on a Friday). I checked everything on Sunday and saw nitrites were detectable. I was worried about it but found an article talking about nitrite only being toxic to most things in very high doses. Ammonia is a totally different story. My life stock ended up being fine.

mcgyvr · 03/03/2018, 07:33 AM

Your tank is already cycled..
Enjoy..

02/28/2018, 12:27 PM	#1
CS95 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 1	Nitrites won't go down - PLEASE HELP! Hi, I recent purchased a Red Sea Max Nano 75L and am 40 days into my fishless cycle. I have around 4KG of live rock and live sand substrate. I'm using the Red Sea Reef Mature Pro Kit to cycle my marine aquarium. Current parameters: Salinity: 35ppt PH: 8.2 KH: 9 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0.05ppm Nitrate: 5ppm Temperature: 26-27 celcius (now 28.9) My ammonia was at 0 by day 10 of the cycle and has remained at 0 since. The issue I am having is that my nitrite has been stuck on 0.05 for the last 2 weeks. My nitrates have been between 5 & 10 for the last two weeks. I've read that it takes a long time for nitrites to hit 0 but is it normal to have no movement for 2 weeks? It had previously dropped down from about 1 ppm in 2 weeks preceding. I had previously been doing 10% water changes weekly but when the nitrites stalled, I left it for about 10 days to see if it would sort itself out to no result. The past 2 days, i have performed 10% water changes daily to see if that would help which it hasn't. I read that increasing the water temp to 84f (28.9 celcius) helps reduce nitrites so raised the water temperature yesterday. Still 0.05 when i tested a moment ago. Any suggestion or similar experiences?!

03/01/2018, 09:22 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That level is safe for animals, so I'd ignore it. It might be a bit of testing error. I had a tank that measured a trace of nitrite for months, though. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/03/2018, 07:33 AM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Your tank is already cycled.. Enjoy.. __________________ Who me?

03/02/2018, 10:11 PM	#3
ajoe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 297	Cycle seems to be progressing just fine. Leave it alone and give it another 4-6 weeks. No two tanks are alike and all cycle differently. The nitrites will go away in time. Just don't rush anything and be patient. A year from now you will have this all behind you and on to other challenges. Nature of the hobby.

03/02/2018, 10:18 PM	#4
ramseynb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 630	I would double check your test kit. Take some water to the LFS store and see if they'll test it for you. Every tank's different, but every tank I've cycled, nitrites were the quickest to go. I'd also consider what bertoni said. I had ordered some live stock online one time and thought my tank was fully cycled (ordered on a Friday). I checked everything on Sunday and saw nitrites were detectable. I was worried about it but found an article talking about nitrite only being toxic to most things in very high doses. Ammonia is a totally different story. My life stock ended up being fine.