High Nitrites

[Noob]

Tested my tank with an API master reef test kit.
Nitrite are high between 80 to 1000
Calcium 440
Carb Hardness 9
Phosphates .25

what can I do to fix my levels?
what would be reasons from my nitrites to be so high?

[Zack]

Have you tested for ammonia? Nitrites form as ammonia breaks down and then these break down into nitrate.

Ammonia-->nitrite---> nitrate

ammonia comes from decomposing organics in your aquarium, as well as excess excrement in your system. Ammonia can also be added accidentally through house cleaning products.

Can an you give a brief history of your setup including fish losses?

[Zack]

These numbers though are dangerously high. I'd recommend large water changes, although first I'd recommend seeing if any fish stores will use Red Sea kits on your water for free. Api is notorious for bad ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate tests.

[Noob]

I bought some hermit crabs about 2 to 3 weeks ago and they're going around killing all my snails and other hermit crabs

[Zack]

How long has it been setup? Tank size? Equipment? That way we can paint a picture and help you out

[Noob]

http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?83408-55gal-Reboot

55gal
Scan 302 skimmer
Small fife
175w MH
Yellow and vlamingi tang
Clown
3 black mollys

[Zack]

Did you add any live rock between the initial reboot and now? I ask, as the LR in the sump looks to be very brown. Maybe you are going through a mini cycle from the addition of the new rock?

[alton]

Couple things I noticed is no way of getting oxygen to the tank, water doesn't flow over anything in your sump, add a couple of baffles to your sump. Also point one of your power heads up to agitate the surface, just having water circling doesn't add oxygen. I did not see a PH test?

[Noob]

No new rock.
Added the yellow tang last week
An two mex turbos a couple days ago.

I have 3 baffles in the sump right before he return. The water has to go over the first, under the 2nd, then over the 3rd baffle.
Sunday i bought some extension cords for my powerheads, so they have been lowered and facing up since then.
Kit didnt come with a ph test

Im hoping its just a faulty kit, gunna call aquarium adventure to yes if they will test the water for me.
With Nitrites so high wouldn't things be dying or zoas not opening?
Does salt mix go bad? I have been using some mix that i've had just rolled up in the bag it came in.

[quicksilverz]

Make sure your test kits are not contaminated or expired and have make sure you are reading them right.

[Noob]

I did notice that when i removed he cap on one of the nitrite bottles it was leaking.
Im going to test again when i get home, do a water change them test again.

[Mike]

I was going to mention checking your test kits. Maybe take water to LFS and have them test to confirm. High nitrites usually means a cycle of some sort with ammonia. Nitrites are toxic, so assuming your levels are correct, probably need to do an ammonia test too. Prime then water changes. Good luck

On the issue with the hermits, that is why we don't do both in the same tank. The hermits kill the snails and each other. I only use hermits in the FOWLR, because the fish eventually kill and eat the hermits.

[Noob]

"Prime"
What do you mine by prime then water change?

[Zack]

Prime is an aquarium product that can detoxify ammonia and the nitrite and nitrates that may be in your system.

[quicksilverz]

We just learned about them in the last meeting. Anyways If you need RO water and live near Sea World let me know.

[klwheat]

I'd definitely start with getting a second test of your nitrites. If you're concerned about your test kits...most LFS can do the test for you...usually free. Just take in a sample. No need to treat a problem that doesn't exist.
If it IS high...Prime will buy you some time. Its an additive that binds ammonia and nitrites. But...you still need to get it out. Water changes are the way to do that. Make sure that whatever died (if that's what happened...thats the only thing that's ever caused a high ammonia/nitrite spike in my tank) is out...and then change whatever you can. If you need water...I have 60 gallons of RODI ready at all times...and you're welcome to come get whatever you want.

[Noob]

Thanks for the offers of RO water, but i got a drum full in the garage
Should i be taking out the empty snail/hermit shells?
Do the critters usually get eaten or do they get kill and left there to rot way?

[leliataylor]

The decaying matter from the snails and hermits could cause a spike in ammonia and a subsequent spike in nitrites. What is your pH? High ammonia and nitrites have a negative impact on pH. Large water changes and adding Prime should make a huge difference, however have you tested your topoff water and the water you are using for water changes? This can become a source of ammonia and nitrites if it sits around for too long. Also, how long has your tank been set up? Do keep in mind, once you add Prime you can get false readings due to the way different test kits process the information. Since you are using the API kits they will not give you a accurate reading when using Prime.

[Bill S]

As others said, take a sample to a store, or to a friend's. You are welcome to come here. 21O.six.six.three.8O79.

ALSO: take your API kit with you. Then you can both test the water. API kits are notorious...

[Noob]

Went to aquarium adventure...
They used an api test strip.
Ph 8
Nitrite 0-20
Nitrates 40
so now I'm more confused...
Bill what part of town are u in

[Dkray944]

Personally, I wouldn't trust a test strip as a third party opinion. My understanding is that they are primarly used to test pond water. I've had Elegant Reef test mine before as a second opinion and they did a great job. They followed the testing instructions to a tee

[quicksilverz]

I agree with dkray944

[Justin]

I would concur

[Mike]

AD did ours last time. I also have heard the strips are no Bueno, surprised a store would use them.

[Dizzle]

Test stip for salt water.. 😂😂 I say give it a day so most the nitrite turns to nitrate and just hit it with a water change.. those dead snails and hermits gotta go, anything dead in your tank will cause ammonia.. i test daily with both kits reef and saltwater.. when i get ammonia i go crazy looking for a dead crab or snail something.. than i do a 5g water change for like 3 days straight and than im good.. just my opinion

[leliataylor]

I have played around with several different brands of test strips that came along with a used tank I purchased. None of them have worked. One tank that was cycling and had high nitrites tested "I don't know" on the test strip. The color changed to yellow and was not on the chart. Another test strip gave me a reading of 0 ammonia and I had added pure ammonia to this tank because I use it to cycle bio media. The ammonia was actually well above the lethal limit.

[klwheat]

Have you added anything like Prime? Or have you done any water changes? Prime and similar will seriously mess up your test results. That said...I don't trust test strips. I would either test it with a good kit, take it somewhere that will, or find a buddy on here to test it for you :)

[LuckySingh]

Years ago when I had small 15gln system and nitrates keep showing 100pm with ati test kits no matter what I do . Took the sample to Lfs and came to know the nitrates weren't bad and my test was no good. One thing I learnt is to get a quality test kit when ever u start a reef and something I wouldn't save money on .
Also the way u can figure out if u do a good water change over few days and nitrates are still sky high that tells me the test kit no good .or being a sample of u close by and we can check at my place if u catch me while I am at the house

[Noob]

So i have been a little busy and haven't do time to do much to the tank.
I did re-test yesterday and the numbers came back the same.
And the test with the high numbers was for NITRATES not nitrite.

This weekend im going to swing by ER or AD and see if one of them will test my water for me.
Should I do a water change tonight or just wait to see the test results first?

Also when do water changes, should i stir the sand?
Sand bed is between 1-2" deep

[Zack]

How are your fish and corals looking?

[Noob]

Everything is looking good/normal
Fish ate fine and zoa looked normal.

[Zack]

If your nitrites were that high I feel you may have a ton of losses. I'd personally wait for a new test kit opinion.

[Noob]

went to elegant reef yesterday and got my water tested nitrates were definitely high according to the Red Sea test they were a little higher than the twenties but lower than 50
his recommendation was to do to big water changes then go back for testing and remove the dead shells.
I was told that the fish and the zoos wouldn't be so affected by the high nitrates but the nitrates might be the cause of all the deaths of the snails and hermit crabs.

so I woke up this morning remove all the dead shells and did a 15 gallon water change.
but the bad part is our power has been off since 720 this morning

[Zack]

Ouch.. I'm almost certain that high of levels would kill fish.. But who knows.. Just make sure you temp match the new water

[Dizzle]

Oh no stagnant water.. at least pour some water in and out of tank with the same aquarium water of course, just to create gas exchanges on the surface.. keep that water moving somehow 😬

[Zack]

Grab a bait bubbler from Walmart.

[Dizzle]

2 and half hours no power.. i would die 😲

[leliataylor]

Buy a UPS battery powered electrical backup source. I have enough to keep airlines moving. You should hear me screaming at CPS when I loose power. I also have a backup gas powered generator.

Glad to hear things are improving. Fish are very tolerant of nitrates, not so tolerant of nitrites and not tolerant of ammonia. As your tank goes through this you might want to test for phosphates.

[Bill S]

Under 50? I wouldn't freak out. Water changes, sure. But it's not devastating...

[Noob]

Yea im not to freaked out anymore.
Fish are alive and zoas are opening fine.
Did a 15 gallon water change on Saturday, then another on Sunday.
Going to do another 15 gallons on Friday then hopefully have time to go to ER for another test.