I have been performing daily DI H20 changes (10-15%) and the nitrites are still there. Could it be that I'm missing some of those good bacteria for the ammonia cycle needs. I stopped rinsing my carbon - poly filter in tap water 3x days ago. Tank has an anemone that is getting better and 2 blennys,
Nitrites 0.5 NH4 0.0 Nitrates 0
- Thread starter mkaiman
- Start date
Help Support Reef Aquarium & Tank Building Forum:
DonW
R.I.P.
May be the test kit.
Don
Don
Krish
RF STAFF
How old is the setup???
I just discovered another post in this forrum about Nitrospira sp. bacteria, responsible for converting nitrites to nitrates, takes longer to establish themselves. I had a hunch that my nano might be deficient at one of the levels so I raised the temp from 75.6 to 78. Do you think I should keep doing the daily H20 changes?? Tank 6 weeks. 14 gal.
Krish
RF STAFF
Has your tank at any point read un-dectable nitrites? The reason I ask is because your tank is still very young (unless it is a transfer from an already established system) and so therefore, your tank may still be in the cycling process and the necessary aerobic bacteria responsible for converting the nitrite into nitrate may not all be there yet so it may just need time to finish cycling (i.e if your tank is 6 weeks old from startup and not a transfer from an already established setup that has completed the cycling process). Just a thought...
Last edited:
ecobalance
lifetaper
nitromax marine
One cap of this and your problem will be solved
One cap of this and your problem will be solved
DonW
R.I.P.
Time is what is needed. Time will give stability, that stuff is a great profit builder and thats about it.
Don
Boomer
Well-known member
I agree with Don and Krish. Often people seem to forget that doing water changes in a new tank, to get NH3/4 , NO2- or NO30 to a lower level, for the purpose to put in marine life sooner, is just a way of slowing down the cyclying process, not to mention the bacterial population density.
It did read 0 across trhe board with LR and LS and that's why I stocked it. Now I'm kinda backpedaling. NO3 = 0, NO2= 0.2 (getting better; only did a 1/2 gal H2) change yesterday and checked it this AM) NH4= 0. I haven't cleaned the charcola/poly filter for about 4 days as I think that was also contributing to low bacteria load.
DonW
R.I.P.
Would help to know how old the tank is. You handle it differently young vs established.
Don
Damsel13
Well-known member
ummm off the topic?
My tank was set up for 12 years, totally ignored...like my health until 8 months ago. I did not scrub anything but did take out a 4" live(dead) sandbed and it has taken these months to get a balance between LR etc. I wanted coraline alge and the whole 9 yards and carried so many gallons of water my husband liked (likes) my loss of weight and new arm muscles. Still the nitrAtes inched down, and they are STILL inching down but at least I am looking at single digits with a Salifert test now as opposed to in the hundreds. All the sudden coralline algae is growing everywhere and things are just looking right. I know anything could go wrong at any time I am just greatful for now that slow hard work is paying off. And yea people might not agree with the way i run my tank but I am a low tech kinda girl and still willing to use what's out there...like skimmers if I see results.
Sorry to be so long winded but I am just so excited to have such amazing stuff in my house.:shock: .
Debbie
My tank was set up for 12 years, totally ignored...like my health until 8 months ago. I did not scrub anything but did take out a 4" live(dead) sandbed and it has taken these months to get a balance between LR etc. I wanted coraline alge and the whole 9 yards and carried so many gallons of water my husband liked (likes) my loss of weight and new arm muscles.
Still the nitrAtes inched down, and they are STILL inching down but at least I am looking at single digits with a Salifert test now as opposed to in the hundreds. All the sudden coralline algae is growing everywhere and things are just looking right. I know anything could go wrong at any time I am just greatful for now that slow hard work is paying off. And yea people might not agree with the way i run my tank but I am a low tech kinda girl and still willing to use what's out there...like skimmers if I see results.Sorry to be so long winded but I am just so excited to have such amazing stuff in my house.:shock: .
Debbie
When I had freshwater tanks I learned that the least intrusive you are the better the stability of the tank. I never used heaters or additives and the tanks did well.
I have reduced my water changes to 1 gal every other day and my nitrites are ~.15 and falling. My clarkii, barred moray and blenny appear very healthy and are eating well. My LTA staged a comeback in color and vigor with the exception of an area with a few stubby tentacles, Snails and crabs are active. I'll retest the other parameters shortly. Tank is about 6 weeks old.
I have reduced my water changes to 1 gal every other day and my nitrites are ~.15 and falling. My clarkii, barred moray and blenny appear very healthy and are eating well. My LTA staged a comeback in color and vigor with the exception of an area with a few stubby tentacles, Snails and crabs are active. I'll retest the other parameters shortly. Tank is about 6 weeks old.
bbehring
Well-known member
I wouldn't have put a LTA in a 6 week old tank. Need about 9 months IMO. What's your lighting system?
Cleaning it will have the opposite effect. Carbon/polyfiber filter media is a virtual heaven for most aerobic bacteria, they will thrive in there. Everytime you clean it or change the material out, you will be removing nutrients and bacteria from the system. While your tank is establishing its initial bacteria population, leaving the filter media alone will help speed it up. Once the tank is more stable, than you can clean/change the media on a regular basis.
MikeS
