Main Menu
| |
Get on the Map!
| |
Forum Menu
| | 
04-06-2008, 05:25 PM
|
#1 (permalink)
| | Spanish Shawl Nudibranch
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 92
Karma: 5
 |  Nitrite levels
I just started a 40gal reef about a week ago. I have about 40 lbs of rock in it right now, along with a couple of power heads, but no skimmer yet. pH, ALK, phosphates and nitrates are fine (both at or near 0), but my nitrites are sitting at .2 ppm. I would like to get a couple of damselfish in there soon in order to speed up the cycle, will my nitrites become a problem for them? Would a skimmer help lower nitrites? _________ 12g Nano Livestock:Black and White Ocellaris, Six Line Wrasse, Scooter Blenny, Feather Duster Cleanup:8 Astrea Snails, 3 Red Hermits, Zebra Hermit, 22 lbs Fiji LR, 20 lbs LS 40g reef
30 lbs Fiji LR. More to come after the cycle :-P  | 
|  | | Reef Links |  | |
04-06-2008, 05:29 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ohio Age: 32
Posts: 3,119
 
|
Don't think so. With cycling your gonna have varying levels.... Remember, let nature take its course...
_________
5.5 gal, 72w of pcs, 2 leds, rio nano skimmer, 40 gal hob filter, 50w visi-therm heater, 5pds lr, 1 inch live sand bed, 1 australian black perc clown ,1 porcelain crab, , 1 pep shrimp, 1 lge turbo , 3 cerith, 1 astrea, 1 nassaruis snails, neon grn bali slimer acro, purple acro, millipora's, feather duster, monti's, duncans, grn polyps, shrooms, zoa's, blue clove polyps, purple death pallys and grn star plyps. | |
| | |
04-06-2008, 05:34 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
| | 3reef Sponsor
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Va/Ct
Posts: 3,671
|
Look you can't speed up bacteria the nitrites you are seeing have just been converted to nitrites from ammonia by the bacteria and they will have to convert the nitrites into nitrates in their time .. But I'd just put a single ,Just one yellow tailed blue damsel fish Just 1 not two.. The fish will keep the bio demand steady so bacteria will have something to keep them going if there is no need for them they will die off. But I'd get the fish in there ASAP. _________ Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible (Doug Larson) | 
| | |
04-06-2008, 05:47 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
| | Spanish Shawl Nudibranch
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 92
Karma: 5
|
Ok, I'll just put one in there tomorrow. (LFS guy told me i need AT LEAST 6, but i knew better, these are the same guys that had me put 4 damsels in my 12g nano the very DAY I bought it!  ) Thanks for the advice guys, karma! | |
| | |
04-06-2008, 07:59 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
| | Gigas Clam
Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Columbus, Indiana Age: 23
Posts: 857
|
don't forget, I'd wait at least 3 mos. for more additions and to add lights!! This whole biological filter thing takes forever!! Most importantly take your time and read up on everything!! As far as "speeding" things up... only bad things happen when you try to rush into things! Go slow and watch, you'll be happy in the long run!! _________ 55 gallon slowly growing reef aquarium, 85 lbs. live rock, 2 1/2" sandbed, 1 False Percula Clown, 1 Sixline Wrasse, Tetratec PF500 filter, 2 110 watt URI Super Actinic VHO actinics, 2 250 watt metal halides with Reef Optix 2 reflectors powered by Blue Wave 3 ballast, born 1/3/08 My Tank Thread My Tank Video  | |
| | |
04-06-2008, 08:16 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
| | Gigas Clam
Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Columbus, Indiana Age: 23
Posts: 857
|
Also, if you are interested in going the slow route... check out my tank thread. Not saying I have done everything right... if I had to do it all over again I would put no LR in all base rock. But so far everything is going great in my tank... I added some very hardy fish early on and let everything go. It is all going great and my tank looks good (pay close attention to the timeline of my tank). My wife is worried about the very small diatom outbreak I have had and I just laugh and show her what others have gone through... my new cleanup crew is making quick work of this nusaince... probably have to start feeding the durned snails for a little while! Hope we all helped! | |
| | |
04-07-2008, 05:19 AM
|
#7 (permalink)
| | 3reef Sponsor
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Va/Ct
Posts: 3,671
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eli_The_Eel  Ok, I'll just put one in there tomorrow. (LFS guy told me i need AT LEAST 6, but i knew better, these are the same guys that had me put 4 damsels in my 12g nano the very DAY I bought it! ) Thanks for the advice guys, karma! | 6 ???? Fish to cycle this tank with ???? I'd never listen to a damn thing they ever had to say I'd use them for just stock and dry good.. Not any information at all. They are either just stupid and hope their customers are also or they are just ignorant of how it works ? | |
| | |
04-07-2008, 06:26 AM
|
#8 (permalink)
| | Gnarly Old Codfish
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 58
Posts: 4,611
 
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eli_The_Eel I just started a 40gal reef about a week ago. I have about 40 lbs of rock in it right now, along with a couple of power heads, but no skimmer yet. pH, ALK, phosphates and nitrates are fine (both at or near 0), but my nitrites are sitting at .2 ppm. I would like to get a couple of damselfish in there soon in order to speed up the cycle, will my nitrites become a problem for them? Would a skimmer help lower nitrites? | Remember, a "cycle" means just that. You are going to see some serious swings in water params over time.
Nitrates should fall if cycle is complete and bacteria doing it's job.
If sure done, do not overpopulate or overfeed initially.
Get skimmer and get it cranked up.
Good Luck! _________ AG "125," AquaC EV 180, 30 gal sump, "SCWD", 80 lbs LR, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (SPS HQI 14000k bulb)
12 Gallon NanoCube - 24w stock PC 50/50 light "...nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank, only bad things happen fast..."
- MIKE PALLETTA - (2008 Reef log) ("OmarD"/"Scott") | |
| | |
04-07-2008, 08:02 AM
|
#9 (permalink)
| | Spanish Shawl Nudibranch
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 92
Karma: 5
|
What's the deal with lights? I shouldn't have any for 3 mos you say? Why not? | |
| | | Reef Links |  | 
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:21 PM. |
