Low nitrites.

[kylekruko85]

I have had my tank running for 6-7 weeks now. I added a the clean up crew at 5ish weeks and a blenny and fire shrimp at 6 weeks. My ammonia is zero but I am getting trace amounts of nitrites, .05-.1ppm. My ph is 8. A few of my clean up crew died I beleive. Should I be worried about anything or is my tank just adjusting to bio load?

[Ryan_E]

I have had my tank running for 6-7 weeks now. I added a the clean up crew at 5ish weeks and a blenny and fire shrimp at 6 weeks. My ammonia is zero but I am getting trace amounts of nitrites, .05-.1ppm. My ph is 8. A few of my clean up crew died I beleive. Should I be worried about anything or is my tank just adjusting to bio load?

What test kit are you using?

[kylekruko85]

Red sea

[Ryan_E]

Hmmmm... I think we will need more info on the tank and how you cycled it. Personally, I never tested for nitrites and just made sure my tank could process 2 ppm (I think?) ammonia in 24 hours.

 

Did you start with live rock or dry rock? Add bacteria? Ammonia Source?

[kylekruko85]

Started with dry rock and live sand. Used dr tims ammonium chloride and bacteria to start cycled. I was able to process ammonia and nitrites in 24 hours.

[Ryan_E]

Started with dry rock and live sand. Used dr tims ammonium chloride and bacteria to start cycled. I was able to process ammonia and nitrites in 24 hours.

This is exactly how I started my tank and I have had no issues. I would not be too concerned with nitrites, but maybe someone else will chime in who knows more than me. What is your feeding schedule like?

[brandon429]

you can skip any concerns its simply harmless at those readings. we can generate that reading in a fully matured tank just moving rocks around. certain aquarium dosers can spoke that reading making it appear significant

 

ok to disregard given the timing of your system, not lacking bac

 

see nitrite in the aquarium article, randy holmes Farley for the non-impactful nature of it described

[Clown79]

Your cleanup crew may have died due to lack of food in a new tank. Depending on how much of a cuc you have there simply may not be enough to support them.

 

It also depends on how long you waited to add them after ammonia dropped to zero.

[msparklym13]

Your cleanup crew may have died due to lack of food in a new tank. Depending on how much of a cuc you have there simply may not be enough to support them.

 

It also depends on how long you waited to add them after ammonia dropped to zero.

Once again Clown79 has great advice!

How big is your tank? I have seen that overloading kicks the weakest out :-( Also as much as it sucks (My daughters name EVERY snail or crab) CUC dies. It is normal. How are Blenny and Firefish?

[jimmyree]

Addition to bio load. I am one week out from adding a goby and fire shrimp and I have a small spike in nitrites also from adding livestock and increased feeding. Your bacteria colonies will shrink to just enough to support your current bio load after you cycle your tank, some die off because there is not enough waste to keep them going. Then when you add bio load they have to grow, this is relatively quick on older tanks but slower on our newer ones. Maybe throw an extra water change into your routine but your biological filter will catch up eventually. I am doing maintenance dosing of bio additives when I add items to help it along.