High Nitrite ! High Nitrate?

All6Fish · 02/27/2012, 05:55 AM

Ok so we are at the end I think of our cycle, but we have Nitrite of 1.0 and our Nitrate is over 4ppm. The Ammonia is almost completely gone (under .2) Should the Nitrate be so high?

All6Fish · 02/27/2012, 06:01 AM

Salinity .026
Temp. 78.5

Sugar Magnolia · 02/27/2012, 06:07 AM

Yes, your nitrate should continue to rise as your nitrites begin to lower. Once your nitrites are zero you can do a water change to bring down nitrates. You'll want to wait until nitrates are less than 20 ppm before adding any clean up crew. Patience!

All6Fish · 02/27/2012, 06:09 AM

ok kool, I guess I was guess confused to have them both so high, when I do a water change should it be approx. 20%? and how long do I wait to test the water after to see if I am ready to add some corals/Fish ?

Sugar Magnolia · 02/27/2012, 06:43 AM

Yes, 20% change is fine. It may take another week to two with water changes to help bring the nitrates down. Continue testing every few days. Under 20 ppm consistently for a week or so then add your clean up crew.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 02/27/2012, 06:50 AM

I agree that nitrate will continue to rise unless you do something to export it, and it may be that high, but with 1 ppm nitrite, many nitrate kits will read a falsely high nitrate reading because a little nitrite can be misdetected as a lot of nitrate with some nitrate kits.

All6Fish · 02/27/2012, 06:54 AM

Thanks.......

02/27/2012, 05:55 AM	#1
All6Fish Moved On Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Meriden, Ct Posts: 532	High Nitrite ! High Nitrate? Ok so we are at the end I think of our cycle, but we have Nitrite of 1.0 and our Nitrate is over 4ppm. The Ammonia is almost completely gone (under .2) Should the Nitrate be so high?

02/27/2012, 06:07 AM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Yes, your nitrate should continue to rise as your nitrites begin to lower. Once your nitrites are zero you can do a water change to bring down nitrates. You'll want to wait until nitrates are less than 20 ppm before adding any clean up crew. Patience! __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

02/27/2012, 06:43 AM	#5
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Yes, 20% change is fine. It may take another week to two with water changes to help bring the nitrates down. Continue testing every few days. Under 20 ppm consistently for a week or so then add your clean up crew. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

02/27/2012, 06:50 AM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I agree that nitrate will continue to rise unless you do something to export it, and it may be that high, but with 1 ppm nitrite, many nitrate kits will read a falsely high nitrate reading because a little nitrite can be misdetected as a lot of nitrate with some nitrate kits. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

02/27/2012, 06:01 AM	#2
All6Fish Moved On Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Meriden, Ct Posts: 532	Salinity .026 Temp. 78.5

02/27/2012, 06:09 AM	#4
All6Fish Moved On Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Meriden, Ct Posts: 532	ok kool, I guess I was guess confused to have them both so high, when I do a water change should it be approx. 20%? and how long do I wait to test the water after to see if I am ready to add some corals/Fish ?

02/27/2012, 06:54 AM	#7
All6Fish Moved On Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Meriden, Ct Posts: 532	Thanks.......