Nitrite?????

tattooeryan · 03-26-2010, 11:23 PM

my tank has been cycling for almost two weeks now (11 days to be exact) my ammonia is at zero (has been for the past 4 days) , but the nitrite hasn't budged at all (up or down). is this normal? if so, when should i expect it to start dropping? I have a 24 gallon tank with a 3'' bed if live sand and about 19 pounds of live rock. Thanks for the help!

RedfordReefer · 03-26-2010, 11:26 PM

From what I've read, 3" is a no-no. It's enough to trap nitrites and nitrates, but not enough to be a Deep sand bed. Either push it to 5-6 inches, or lower it to an inch or so.

I am sure the experts will correct me if I am wrong.

Sir Patrick · 03-26-2010, 11:31 PM

3" is fine, with the right maintanace on the bed.

Ryan- you wont see any nitrits till ya see amonia, unless you are cycling with some really well established live rock in the system.

Ae you seeing zeros across the board? Amonia, nitrite, and nitrate? 11 days is still pretty soon to see anything on a test kit w/o some really nasty stuff breaking down in the tank.

Looking forward to helping- will wait for more info!

tattooeryan · 03-26-2010, 11:36 PM

I watched the ammonia drop down to zero over a few days, but the nitrites have stayed the same the whole time. I've read quite a bit before starting, and from what i've read, the nitrites should be raising as the ammonia drops, then dropping themselfs. right?

Sir Patrick · 03-26-2010, 11:38 PM

That is correct.

tattooeryan · 03-26-2010, 11:39 PM

i also have quite a bit of brownish alge growing on the live rock. i cut the lights down to 4 hours a day and it has slowed dramaticaly. The live rock had a small amount of coraline alge when i bought it.

Sir Patrick · 03-26-2010, 11:40 PM

How old is the nitrite test? What brand is it? API?

Sir Patrick · 03-26-2010, 11:41 PM

The brown algea is probly a biotom bloom. Very normal for a cycle.

tattooeryan · 03-26-2010, 11:41 PM

yup, it is. I'm not sure on how old it is? the color has stayed EXACTLY the same since i started testing

Sir Patrick · 03-26-2010, 11:44 PM

In my experiance- a expired test kit, from api, ot 2 little fishies, will show a constantly same test on different parameters. Somtimes api is good, and others bad- even when not expired....if you are reading the same, when you really should not, I would think its a bad test kit.

Any chance to get the test cross examined w/ a different test? Possibly at a freinds, ot local fish store?

You seeing nitrates yet?