tank is runnig for a week and nitrites are thru the roof! help!

[izzy123]

hello,

so, I set up my 40G tank with a 25G sump and it's been running for a week now, these are my numbers

Ammonia: 0.1 mg/l
Nitrates : 1 mg/l
nitrites : more than 1 mg/l (my testset can't mesure above that)
Salinity : 1026
temperature: 78

I started of with about 10 pounds of live rock and about 40 pounds of base rock, and I have a RATZ skimmer running that's rated for tanks up to 150G witch produces little or no skimmate.
the nitrites have been this high for three days now, and I also have a brownish outbreak of algea on my rock.

Is this normal?

Thanks

Ivan

[SwampyBill]

All perfectly normal part of the cycling process. You should have an ammonia spike, then nitrite, then nitrates. Test your water parameters every few days; & the brown algae is also part of the cycling process. When your water parameters all reach 0, do a 25% water change, & add snails/hermits for CUC. Good luck!

[okieman98]

swampy bill beat me to the post +1

[izzy123]

All perfectly normal part of the cycling process. You should have an ammonia spike, then nitrite, then nitrates. Test your water parameters every few days; & the brown algae is also part of the cycling process. When your water parameters all reach 0, do a 25% water change, & add snails/hermits for CUC. Good luck!

ok, thanks..... I started to doubt myself here.......
so, how long does it usually take for the nitrites to go down?

Thanks

[SwampyBill]

It usually takes a few weeks; but can be as little as a week. Plenty variables like how much live rock/live sand, putting a raw shrimp in sand to help cycle along, etc. btw, what type of test kits you using?

[izzy123]

It usually takes a few weeks; but can be as little as a week. Plenty variables like how much live rock/live sand, putting a raw shrimp in sand to help cycle along, etc. btw, what type of test kits you using?

Sorry it took so long, reef central was offline here,

Don't know if you guys know the brand over there, but it's the JBL TESTLAB MARIN.
The reason I started to doubt myself is that friend of mine told me I had to put in a fish now for the cycle to finish.
But in all my research I learned that it was not necesarry to put a live fish in there, if I remember corectly, the nitrites will kill it!

Thanks

[xbehmerx]

Your fine! Just apart of the cycle, nows the fun part, (being patient :) ) Dont worry. before you know it, you'll be Adding the fun stuff! and wishing you were cycling again! ;)

[xbehmerx]

oh yeah, and wait for everything to clear out to zero! no need to add fish

[shifty51008]

nitrites are actually harmless in salt water to fish, however your cycle is doing good on it's own. just leave it the way it is and everything will come down. once your amonia, and nitrites are at 0 then you can do a 10-20% water change to help lower the nitrates.

after a week of 0 ammonia, and nitrites and low nitrates then you can add your clean up crew and 1 fish to start.

[izzy123]

nitrites are actually harmless in salt water to fish, however your cycle is doing good on it's own. just leave it the way it is and everything will come down. once your amonia, and nitrites are at 0 then you can do a 10-20% water change to help lower the nitrates.

after a week of 0 ammonia, and nitrites and low nitrates then you can add your clean up crew and 1 fish to start.

Thank you guys for easing my mind, it's great to have a resource like RC to fall back on :idea:

About that.... I would rather start off with the CUC (more fun for the kids), or is it better to start of with a fish?
I was thinking of a clownfish to start of with .
I don't want to start of with a damsel, because I do not like the fish, and it is way too agressive

Thanks

[shifty51008]

CUC is usually what most start with due to the algae you get from the cycle. but if you don't have alot of algae you can wait a while for the CUC. of just get a few to start with and add more if you have more algae.

a clown is a great fish to start with and yes they are a damsel also so don't always hate them lol I have seen clowns more agressive than damsels also.

[tspors]

CUC i
a clown is a great fish to start with and yes they are a damsel also so don't always hate them lol I have seen clowns more agressive than damsels also.

DO NOT ADD A FISH!!!!
You are doing fine, just keep up some patience now. I would not add your CUC for at least another month. Let things stabalize a bit. Personally, on every tank I started I waited 2 months ofr CUC and 4 Months for fish. Your CYCLE may end but the tank is no where ready for life. Especially a fish. Good Luck

[izzy123]

DO NOT ADD A FISH!!!!
You are doing fine, just keep up some patience now. I would not add your CUC for at least another month. Let things stabalize a bit. Personally, on every tank I started I waited 2 months ofr CUC and 4 Months for fish. Your CYCLE may end but the tank is no where ready for life. Especially a fish. Good Luck

I was planning on taking it slow, I am in no rush....... my wife and kids on the other hand wants to see some movement ASAP!!:D

after the cycle, the CUC and the fish, how long do you wait before adding corals after that?

By the way, can I leave the lights on for the cycle, or should I turn them off?

Thanks

[RocketSurgeon]

As far as movement goes, have the wife and children search out critters on the live rock! See who will be the first to find new things and start naming them.
go ahead start the lighting cycle as well. Get a timer, or get used to turning the lights on and off about the same time every day. The lights will help with algae growth, which in turn is part of the cycling process.

Pick your CUC and your fish according to your overall setup design. All CUC are not reef safe, if that is the direction you are heading. I too recommend starting with a clown, but as previously mentioned it is in the damsel family and can be aggressive as well.

http://icecapinc.com/informationcenter/articles/caring-for-the-fish-of-finding-nemo

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nemoproart.htm


As far as coral goes, wait 3 or 4 months till you are comfortable with water changes and water testing. Keep the tank parameters stable. then you can start with a few easy gro corals.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/coralcare/ig/15-Easy-Corals/

Good luck and keep coming back with more questions!