Nitrite?????
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!
CR Member
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.
A2 Club Coordinator
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!
A2 Club Coordinator
That is correct.
A2 Club Coordinator
How old is the nitrite test? What brand is it? API?
A2 Club Coordinator
The brown algea is probly a biotom bloom. Very normal for a cycle.
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?
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.
yup, it is. I'm not sure on how old it is? the color has stayed EXACTLY the same since i started testing
CR Member
are you seeing any nitrates nitrites don't always show up and are actually harmless in a salt tank unless they get to extreme levels as the salt neutralizes it's toxicity
I have been reefing from 08-2007 till 5-2011
reef tanks are like wifes you have to give them some attention every now and then
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