Nitrite

[clownfish]

Hi guys, wow, am I glad I've found your forums, this place is great!

Here's my question/concern: I just set my aquarium up last Sunday tomorrow'll be a week. It's a 46 gal. tank and in it I have once piece of live rock and 40 lbs of live sand. At first the Nitrite level was pretty low, close to nothing, but now it's way up and I was just wondering if this is normal after almost a week and/or part of the cycle. And if it isn't normal after this long, what can I do to reduce the Nitrite level? Also, should I keep my skimmer off for now or it doesn't matter? Somebody told me I should add plants, is this true/safe?

I apologize in advance for buggin' you with something I'm sure most of you know like the back of your hand and something everybody should know. I've had fresh water tanks, but I have little if not zero experience with salties.

I plan to keep only fish in the tank for now. Unless you recommend I add something else.

Thank You all for your time/help. Have a good one. Laters.

[David Renke]

Yes it is normal for nitrites to be high after a week, the 'saltwater bacteria' are alot slower than in freshwater and a saltwater aquarium can take up to eight weeks to complete the cycle.

Im not sure about the skimmer, but i would leave it on. you dont have to add any plants.

[coral reefer]

During the cycling phase of your tanks development, you will experience readings all over the place and some pretty elevated readings at that in my opinion!
Having said this, I would run the skimmer, keep the lights off(thus the need for plants-algae) becomes a mute point and should not be added during this time!
It could take anywhere from a month to two months for the cycle to run its course naturally. Adding live sand and rock will help along with the addition of a couple hardy fish or a thawed out frozen shrimp dropped into your tank.
Best of luck!

[Tangster]

40 lbs of L/sand ? Maybe 1 lb was all you needed . set back and wait about 7 more weeks I'd add a few snails to help keep it going though or a a single yellow tailed damsal just one.. Because unless you have somthing in there addding a bio demand at a steady rate the die off from your sand and rock will fall off .. A system can't hold or store any more bacteria then whats needed no need no bacteria..

[clownfish]

Thank You all for your fast response, I truly appreciate it. I have one question for Tangster though: so, did I screw up by putting so much sand at once? If so, what should I do? will add the damsel fish (one) help? I'm a bit confused. Thanks again.

[Tangster]

No you did not screw up just wasted 39 pounds of money if you had to pay for it.. As for the damsel Just one most people want to add several and then they will pair off and you will have hell on your hands Just one yellow tailed blue damsel and you will never see it they are chicken and wimps and hide all the time.. But it will maintain a steady level of bacteria and this is why we have to add fish one at a time and allow 3 weeks between new fish additions this allows the dentrifying bacteria time enough to grow in numbers to handle the added demand of that new fish. Corals do not add that much of a load so its not as big a deal to add several at once once the tank is totally cycled and ready..

[clownfish]

Ok Tangster, I appreciate your help. I will go ahead and add one fish. Thanks!

[Tangster]

I have a strange way by todays standards of cycling a tank.. Its never ever failed me or anyone who gave ever applied it and there is seldom any algae issues as well as tanks health problems (: