Curing Live Rock Problemo

[NyteReefer]

Hi, I bought my rock from LiveAquaria.com, and it was 45lbs of it. I had just finished cycling my tank when I bought this, so I had to cure it outside of the tank (which is still going on.) I bought this rock about a month ago and it is still curing, I do 100% water changes on the rock twice weekly. I got the Ammonia to 0, but the nitrite is just not going down! What do I do to help it go faster? I don't feel like buying any fish until this LR is done. Please Help

[an411]

When you are doing the water changes are the rock exposed to air?

[NyteReefer]

yes....is that the problem? They are only exposed for like 5 minutes...

[jimwat]

Seems odd that you are reading nitrites but no nitrates after a month. My first step would be to verify that my test kit is working properly.

[an411]

I am not 100% sure if that is your issue but I noticed a while back when I was doing water changes in the DT and the live rock on the top was sticking out of the water that all the coralline that was on the rock would turn white. I am sure that once things are exposed to air that there is some die off. How much air and for how long I am not to sure hopefully someone else can come in and give insight. I agree with jimwat also check the test kit could be your problem

[NyteReefer]

Oh I forgot to add that part:

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 5
Nitrate ~100

[jimwat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12522993#post12522993 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NyteReefer
Oh I forgot to add that part:

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 5
Nitrate ~100 WOW! Your water changes should a least be keeping your Nitrate levels down. Does the rock smell?

[NyteReefer]

Rock doesn't smell at all....which is the strange part to me.

[NyteReefer]

I just checked with an old test kit, Nitrate on that is reading 20

[jimwat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12523085#post12523085 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NyteReefer
I just checked with an old test kit, Nitrate on that is reading 20 That is more like it. I'd take a sample of the water to LFS to make sure. I am now wondering if your nitrite level is a false positive.

BTW, I've tried many different test kits, and the Salifert kits are easily my favorite.

[NyteReefer]

Well, thanks, but how can I lower the Nitrite?

[an411]

I am almost wondering if the water changes are the problem I am trying to remember but I think that when I was cycling my tank I didnt do water changes till the water parameters are all 0. This may be a matter of opinion. But if you test kit is not wrong. I am thinking that the next to things to look into is the rock being exposed to air and the fact that you are doing a 100% water change 2 times a week.

[jimwat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12523150#post12523150 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NyteReefer
Well, thanks, but how can I lower the Nitrite? You should not have to do anything. Once your rock has bacteria needed to complete the cycle (which it does), your nitrite should be converted to nitrates. Water changes are then used to reduce your nitrate levels.

Readable nitrites indicate that the cycle is not completed (balanced), which is very strange for rock that started as "live" a month ago.

[NyteReefer]

It had some die off in transit, so I had to cure the rock outside aquarium so it wouldn't kill fish. It smelled really bad at first, and now I can see coraaline algae growing on it inside the tub I have it curing in. I don't wanna hurt any fish in the tank tho.