nitrite problem is frustrating

kurquhart1 · 01/30/2009, 01:18 AM

i have had 2 peppermint shrimps die and my naso tang and cant figure out what to do. im on the verge of 2 green chromis dying as well. for some reason i have a really bad nitrite problem. 2 weeks ago i changed my filter(no room for sump) so i chose the rena xp3 canister. in the filter i have what was given to me nothing added as i was told i didnt need it. my tank has been running since november 4th.

ammonia shows 0 everything else is in check. i have no corals yet only fish but yet nitrite is 1 level above undetectable. i did a 50 percent water change today. i dont have an RO filter so i use tap water conditionermade by prime. i also use my faucet filter.

after i changed 50 percent of my water my chromis are gasping for air right now so i decided to change another 20 percent. i tested my water without salt and it was reading high for nitrite.

can i fix this problem? i dont have the money for a RO filter right now because i just upgraded my lighting and my new canister.

this is so frustrating.......

kurquhart1 · 01/30/2009, 01:25 AM

im not overfeeding. i feed flake for the chromis and tang got seaweed every other day and lettuce in between.

MileHighFish · 01/30/2009, 01:40 AM

whats the reading? Olso how old is this set up?

Playa-1 · 01/30/2009, 01:49 AM

The presence of Nitrites indicates that your tank is cycling.
My first guess would be poor gas exchange or contamination of some sort such as Ammonia poisoning from dieoff. What are the water parameters that your testing for?
Are you running a Protein Skimmer?
I would suspect it's cold in your area and your house is closed up tight for the winter.

Jason Donohoe · 01/30/2009, 06:28 AM

As Playa mentioned, an elevated nitrite means the tank is still cycling. If you don't have much live rock your beneficial bacteria may have all been in your old filter and it will take time to re-establish that population. Nitrite has a very low toxicity in saltwater (in contrast to freshwater where it is very toxic).

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

There is probably another reason for your fish dying. Do you have a QT/hospital tank you could move your livestock to temporarily? It is a lot easier to do significant % water changes in a smaller tank.

192clark · 01/30/2009, 06:38 AM

I agree with the fact that your tank is probably still cycling. The RODI is one of the most important items that you can get this hobby is all about water starting with the best is always the best answer. You should not spend another dime on anything else until you get the RODI...

jettster · 01/30/2009, 06:46 AM

check with your lfs of other reefers close by and you may be able to buy ro water till you get your own unit

kurquhart1 · 01/30/2009, 10:01 AM

i tested for everything and everything was fine. i have had my tank since november. i had ammonia before and it went away long ago. everything in my tank seemed to be doing great. last night i tested my kitchen tap water and it was bad for nitrites. then i did another big water change and tested my tap water in my bathroom and the water was better so i used it. its 10:30 am and my chromis are swimming around and looks possibly like there pulling through. could it have been a certain tap i used?

its also winder time here, so my place is warm. my temp is set to 79 and my salinity is 1.025

RiverOtter · 01/30/2009, 10:12 AM

I found ro water at a local heath food store for $.20 a gal. The LFS sells it for $1 a gal. The Heath food store no longer lifts a eyebrow when I show up with 6, 5gal buckets that say fish tank all over them.

YE||0W TA|\|G · 01/30/2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

The Heath food store no longer lifts a eyebrow when I show up with 6, 5gal buckets that say fish tank all over them.

haha

rob28 · 01/30/2009, 10:34 AM

keep testing,70 % water change is excessive if your tape water has high nitrites your adding to the problem,I don't have a RO/DI But our water here is great.Ive seen small RO/DI as cheap as 150$

YE||0W TA|\|G · 01/30/2009, 10:35 AM

I would look into getting a RO/DI. like 192clark mentioned. RO/DI is one of the most important things to have

rhunter513 · 01/30/2009, 11:26 AM

if you have high nitrites in your tap water stop using that for water changes. For a quick fix until you can find better source water, get a nitrite absorption media sold at most lfs and use it to rid the tank of nitrites. Also lower your sg to 1.02/23 - ammonia and nitrites are more toxic at higher sg levels. Use a gallon of distilled water to lower sg.

01/30/2009, 01:18 AM	#1
kurquhart1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: hamilton ontario canada Posts: 141	nitrite problem is frustrating i have had 2 peppermint shrimps die and my naso tang and cant figure out what to do. im on the verge of 2 green chromis dying as well. for some reason i have a really bad nitrite problem. 2 weeks ago i changed my filter(no room for sump) so i chose the rena xp3 canister. in the filter i have what was given to me nothing added as i was told i didnt need it. my tank has been running since november 4th. ammonia shows 0 everything else is in check. i have no corals yet only fish but yet nitrite is 1 level above undetectable. i did a 50 percent water change today. i dont have an RO filter so i use tap water conditionermade by prime. i also use my faucet filter. after i changed 50 percent of my water my chromis are gasping for air right now so i decided to change another 20 percent. i tested my water without salt and it was reading high for nitrite. can i fix this problem? i dont have the money for a RO filter right now because i just upgraded my lighting and my new canister. this is so frustrating.......

01/30/2009, 01:40 AM	#3
MileHighFish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NM. Posts: 1,722	whats the reading? Olso how old is this set up? __________________ See "Red House" for pics!! I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. Mitch Hedberg Current Tank Info: Reef tank, 100 gal Lee Mar polished.. 60 sump.. 800 watts mh 20k radium..Ran on "Taiwan HQI Ballast" 330 watt VHO.. 48 watt compacts (dawn/dusk).. sps/lps tank..

01/30/2009, 06:28 AM	#5
Jason Donohoe Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada Posts: 638	As Playa mentioned, an elevated nitrite means the tank is still cycling. If you don't have much live rock your beneficial bacteria may have all been in your old filter and it will take time to re-establish that population. Nitrite has a very low toxicity in saltwater (in contrast to freshwater where it is very toxic). http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.htm There is probably another reason for your fish dying. Do you have a QT/hospital tank you could move your livestock to temporarily? It is a lot easier to do significant % water changes in a smaller tank. __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bowfront softie tank

01/30/2009, 10:12 AM	#9
RiverOtter Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Redding CA Posts: 166	I found ro water at a local heath food store for $.20 a gal. The LFS sells it for $1 a gal. The Heath food store no longer lifts a eyebrow when I show up with 6, 5gal buckets that say fish tank all over them. __________________ 50 gal reef 5m. old Starting a 38 gal seahorse tank Current Tank Info: 50 gal reef 55gl FW

01/30/2009, 10:34 AM	#11
rob28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 241	keep testing,70 % water change is excessive if your tape water has high nitrites your adding to the problem,I don't have a RO/DI But our water here is great.Ive seen small RO/DI as cheap as 150$ __________________ When Hell Freezes Over I'll Ice Fish There TOO!!!! Current Tank Info: 55gallon,16 gall.refugium/sump 4X55W T5'S 2 false Percs,Pj Cardinal,6 line Wrasses,Green Manderine, Flame Angle,2- Purple Firefish,Lawnmower Blenny,Serpant Star,Seaba Anm., Hammer coral,Zoo's, 80 lbs Live rock/100 lbs sand

01/30/2009, 01:25 AM	#2
kurquhart1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: hamilton ontario canada Posts: 141	im not overfeeding. i feed flake for the chromis and tang got seaweed every other day and lettuce in between.

01/30/2009, 01:49 AM	#4
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	The presence of Nitrites indicates that your tank is cycling. My first guess would be poor gas exchange or contamination of some sort such as Ammonia poisoning from dieoff. What are the water parameters that your testing for? Are you running a Protein Skimmer? I would suspect it's cold in your area and your house is closed up tight for the winter.

01/30/2009, 06:38 AM	#6
192clark Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Summerville, SC Posts: 635	I agree with the fact that your tank is probably still cycling. The RODI is one of the most important items that you can get this hobby is all about water starting with the best is always the best answer. You should not spend another dime on anything else until you get the RODI...

01/30/2009, 06:46 AM	#7
jettster Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Jefferson City tn. Posts: 337	check with your lfs of other reefers close by and you may be able to buy ro water till you get your own unit

01/30/2009, 10:01 AM	#8
kurquhart1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: hamilton ontario canada Posts: 141	i tested for everything and everything was fine. i have had my tank since november. i had ammonia before and it went away long ago. everything in my tank seemed to be doing great. last night i tested my kitchen tap water and it was bad for nitrites. then i did another big water change and tested my tap water in my bathroom and the water was better so i used it. its 10:30 am and my chromis are swimming around and looks possibly like there pulling through. could it have been a certain tap i used? its also winder time here, so my place is warm. my temp is set to 79 and my salinity is 1.025

01/30/2009, 10:35 AM	#12
YE\|\|0W TA\|\\|G Registered Member $YE\|\|0W TA\|\\|G's Avatar$ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hillsborough New Jersey Posts: 699	I would look into getting a RO/DI. like 192clark mentioned. RO/DI is one of the most important things to have __________________ Rome was not built in a day, and neither was the ocean.. or our aquariums.. patience is they key to success.
$YE\|\|0W TA\|\\|G is offline$

01/30/2009, 11:26 AM	#13
rhunter513 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 289	if you have high nitrites in your tap water stop using that for water changes. For a quick fix until you can find better source water, get a nitrite absorption media sold at most lfs and use it to rid the tank of nitrites. Also lower your sg to 1.02/23 - ammonia and nitrites are more toxic at higher sg levels. Use a gallon of distilled water to lower sg. __________________ 24g nancube - born 1/12/08