Nitrates/Nitrites levels HELP!!!

Saltwaterguy75 · 05/04/2014, 06:00 PM

I have a 30 gallon tank setup for about 7 weeks and I have been doing water changes, (my water is well water that goes through my water purification system) in which I tested the water in my house and all levels are good but my tank water levels for nit and nitrates are high what should I do and what could be causing it? I have live sand and live rock in it and no fish.

MinnFish · 05/04/2014, 06:36 PM

What is the ammonia reading?

Saltwaterguy75 · 05/04/2014, 06:43 PM

Ammonia is at 0

MinnFish · 05/04/2014, 06:46 PM

How long has the nitrites been high?

Saltwaterguy75 · 05/04/2014, 06:47 PM

Could it be the brown algea diotons on my rock? I have a very little spot about the size of a 50 cent coin growing on my rock

Saltwaterguy75 · 05/04/2014, 06:50 PM

Since day 1

tufkab · 05/04/2014, 06:53 PM

Your tank is still cycling. There is no reason for you to be doing water changes, you're just extending the length of your cycle. When your nitrites reach zero, your cycle is finished and you can then do water changes to lower the nitrate levels. Until then, hurry up and wait.

Saltwaterguy75 · 05/04/2014, 06:56 PM

I just took another reading nitrite at 2.0ppm and nitrate at 5.0ppm

MinnFish · 05/04/2014, 07:02 PM

Yes, your tank is still cycling. Could very well have stalled. Yes, doing water changes has extended your cycle. Not sure about the brown spots without a pic. Can you post a pic?

Saltwaterguy75 · 05/04/2014, 07:02 PM

Really? I just thought it would be cycled by 7 weeks and thought doing water changes would do good, but thanks for letting me know. Sorry I'm a newbie to SW

Saltwaterguy75 · 05/04/2014, 07:04 PM

Sure I will post a pic

MinnFish · 05/04/2014, 07:12 PM

Nah, water changes should be done at the end of an cycle. Ammonia lives in the water column, that's the food for your bacteria to start the cycle. Bacteria lives in substrate. You are still good to go. Just wait until the nitrites reads 0 and do a WC to bring the nitrate down. Good luck and happy reefkeeping. BTW, we all have made rookie mistakes. The mistake club accepts new members daily. LOL.

SwampyBill · 05/04/2014, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinnFish

Nah, water changes should be done at the end of an cycle. BTW, we all have made rookie mistakes. The mistake club accepts new members daily. LOL.

^^^ +1,000...If I had a nickel for every noob mistake I made over the yrs .....

You're on the right track & should be ready for fish in a few weeks. Do you have a QT set up? Keep asking questions here before making any impulsive purchases (no matter how cute the fish or how well LFS says it'll do in your tank)...Good luck & welcome to Reef Central!

Stolireef · 05/05/2014, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinnFish

The mistake club accepts new members daily. LOL.

Daily. I'd say its closer to hourly and I'm a charter member. In fact, we have a group of guys here that have formed the official Coral Assassin Squad.

SwampyBill · 05/05/2014, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stolireef

Daily. I'd say its closer to hourly and I'm a charter member. In fact, we have a group of guys here that have formed the official Coral Assassin Squad.

Also a 'tank cycled in 2 wks squad' & 'anemone in 2 mo. old tank squad' too...

05/04/2014, 06:00 PM	#1
Saltwaterguy75 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 15	Nitrates/Nitrites levels HELP!!! I have a 30 gallon tank setup for about 7 weeks and I have been doing water changes, (my water is well water that goes through my water purification system) in which I tested the water in my house and all levels are good but my tank water levels for nit and nitrates are high what should I do and what could be causing it? I have live sand and live rock in it and no fish.

05/04/2014, 06:36 PM	#2
MinnFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home of 10,000 lakes Posts: 917	What is the ammonia reading? __________________ 33G Long, 4x54 watt T5, Tunze 6025, Tunze Osmolator ATO, Tunze Streamfilter 3163 Posts about moving an oversized fish to a bigger tank. Is like hearing every stripper is just working to pay for colle

05/04/2014, 06:46 PM	#4
MinnFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home of 10,000 lakes Posts: 917	How long has the nitrites been high? __________________ 33G Long, 4x54 watt T5, Tunze 6025, Tunze Osmolator ATO, Tunze Streamfilter 3163 Posts about moving an oversized fish to a bigger tank. Is like hearing every stripper is just working to pay for colle

05/04/2014, 07:02 PM	#9
MinnFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home of 10,000 lakes Posts: 917	Yes, your tank is still cycling. Could very well have stalled. Yes, doing water changes has extended your cycle. Not sure about the brown spots without a pic. Can you post a pic? __________________ 33G Long, 4x54 watt T5, Tunze 6025, Tunze Osmolator ATO, Tunze Streamfilter 3163 Posts about moving an oversized fish to a bigger tank. Is like hearing every stripper is just working to pay for colle

05/04/2014, 07:12 PM	#12
MinnFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home of 10,000 lakes Posts: 917	Nah, water changes should be done at the end of an cycle. Ammonia lives in the water column, that's the food for your bacteria to start the cycle. Bacteria lives in substrate. You are still good to go. Just wait until the nitrites reads 0 and do a WC to bring the nitrate down. Good luck and happy reefkeeping. BTW, we all have made rookie mistakes. The mistake club accepts new members daily. LOL. __________________ 33G Long, 4x54 watt T5, Tunze 6025, Tunze Osmolator ATO, Tunze Streamfilter 3163 Posts about moving an oversized fish to a bigger tank. Is like hearing every stripper is just working to pay for colle

05/04/2014, 06:43 PM	#3
Saltwaterguy75 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 15	Ammonia is at 0

05/04/2014, 06:47 PM	#5
Saltwaterguy75 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 15	Could it be the brown algea diotons on my rock? I have a very little spot about the size of a 50 cent coin growing on my rock

05/04/2014, 06:50 PM	#6
Saltwaterguy75 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 15	Since day 1

05/04/2014, 06:53 PM	#7
tufkab Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 178	Your tank is still cycling. There is no reason for you to be doing water changes, you're just extending the length of your cycle. When your nitrites reach zero, your cycle is finished and you can then do water changes to lower the nitrate levels. Until then, hurry up and wait.

05/04/2014, 06:56 PM	#8
Saltwaterguy75 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 15	I just took another reading nitrite at 2.0ppm and nitrate at 5.0ppm

05/04/2014, 07:04 PM	#11
Saltwaterguy75 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 15	Sure I will post a pic