Nitrite in my qt!!

Monster00101 · 03/04/2010, 12:39 PM

I have a 20 gallon qt with a yellow tang and a niger trigger. They have only been in there for 3 days and i changed 25% of the water and the nitrites r .50 again. I used the foam from my display. Is there something im doing wrong? How often should i change the water?

Percula9 · 03/04/2010, 01:01 PM

Your QT is cycling. Nitrite shouldn't be a problem as it is difficult for it to pass through the gills due to competition with chloride. Put some live rock in the tank.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/04/2010, 01:24 PM

Is this hyposalinity or normal reef salinity?

Monster00101 · 03/04/2010, 01:59 PM

It is normal reef salinity. Should i use the rock from my display?

returnofsid · 03/04/2010, 02:08 PM

That's a lot of fish for a 20G, but I understand it's for QT purposes. Sounds like it's cycling. Nitrites aren't as harmful for SW fish as they are for FW. Just keep up on water changes. Might need to do 5 gallons daily.

Monster00101 · 03/04/2010, 02:11 PM

wow 25% daily? would putting rock from my display help reduce the amount of water change?

Monster00101 · 03/04/2010, 05:51 PM

Should i use rock from my display?

bertoni · 03/04/2010, 07:01 PM

The rock might help. I'd consider adding a bigger filter and waiting for it to become effective, to avoid contaminating the live rock. Nitrite isn't harmful at that level, so it can be ignored.

Monster00101 · 03/04/2010, 07:08 PM

ok thanks for the piece of mind. I was pretty worried.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/05/2010, 04:44 AM

I agree, at normal salinity there is no concern about nitrite. Just keep a close eye on ammonia.

Monster00101 · 03/05/2010, 12:53 PM

Thanks again

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/05/2010, 01:01 PM

Good luck with the fish.

Monster00101 · 03/05/2010, 03:42 PM

all goes well so far they look real happy and healthy

03/04/2010, 12:39 PM	#1
Monster00101 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: alberta Posts: 858	Nitrite in my qt!! I have a 20 gallon qt with a yellow tang and a niger trigger. They have only been in there for 3 days and i changed 25% of the water and the nitrites r .50 again. I used the foam from my display. Is there something im doing wrong? How often should i change the water?

03/04/2010, 01:24 PM	#3
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 81,937	Is this hyposalinity or normal reef salinity? __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Club 65535 Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/04/2010, 07:01 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 68,814	The rock might help. I'd consider adding a bigger filter and waiting for it to become effective, to avoid contaminating the live rock. Nitrite isn't harmful at that level, so it can be ignored. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/05/2010, 04:44 AM	#10
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 81,937	I agree, at normal salinity there is no concern about nitrite. Just keep a close eye on ammonia. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Club 65535 Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/05/2010, 01:01 PM	#12
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 81,937	Good luck with the fish. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Club 65535 Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/04/2010, 01:01 PM	#2
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,610	Your QT is cycling. Nitrite shouldn't be a problem as it is difficult for it to pass through the gills due to competition with chloride. Put some live rock in the tank.

03/04/2010, 01:59 PM	#4
Monster00101 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: alberta Posts: 858	It is normal reef salinity. Should i use the rock from my display?

03/04/2010, 02:08 PM	#5
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,900	That's a lot of fish for a 20G, but I understand it's for QT purposes. Sounds like it's cycling. Nitrites aren't as harmful for SW fish as they are for FW. Just keep up on water changes. Might need to do 5 gallons daily.

03/04/2010, 02:11 PM	#6
Monster00101 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: alberta Posts: 858	wow 25% daily? would putting rock from my display help reduce the amount of water change?

03/04/2010, 05:51 PM	#7
Monster00101 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: alberta Posts: 858	Should i use rock from my display?

03/04/2010, 07:08 PM	#9
Monster00101 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: alberta Posts: 858	ok thanks for the piece of mind. I was pretty worried.

03/05/2010, 12:53 PM	#11
Monster00101 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: alberta Posts: 858	Thanks again

03/05/2010, 03:42 PM	#13
Monster00101 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: alberta Posts: 858	all goes well so far they look real happy and healthy