cycling nitrite issue

[Dennis Shade]

Background: Due to a major algae issue (was not using RO/DI, LFS said "sure no problem you can use tap", know better now) we have decided to move our FOWLR set up to another tank (from a 55 to another 55g). The tank was used but thouroughly scrubbed (no soap!) and cleaned with vinegar, rinsed out several times. All the seals were replaced. Tank was filled with fresh RO/DI to test for leaks and drained.

Tank was filled with fresh RO/DI salt water (aged) and added heater, 2 powerheads, then 30 lbs of aragonite sand special grade reef sand (CaribSea stuff) . We were anticipating a very small cycle as we added most of the live rock from our previous established tank (~35 lbs right now). It has been running for exactly a month now and we have never seen a speck of ammonia but our nitrites have been consistently registering 5 on our test kit (highest it will read) and nitrates have not been rising.

Last reading (tonight) was 76.7 deg F, 1.027 salinity (refractometer), 8.2 pH, 0 ammonia, 5 nitrite, 10 nitrate, 11 dkh, Ca 360, 0 phosphates. It does not have any light, skimmer yet (on other tank) no live animals unless came in on live rock. Our canister filter is on the other tank so we have a small power filter running for mechanical filtration. No sump or refuge yet, planning for future additions.

RO/DI water tested 0 for nitrite, using Crystal Sea salt.

What's going on with our cycle? Shouldn't the nitrites be going down and nitrates be going up? We are anxious to move our 2 fish over from quarantine tank. Please advise!

 

[Craig Lambert]

If nitrates are zero, then I would suspect a faulty Nitrite test kit. 5 is pretty high...Maybe retest with a Salifert kit.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Did you try testing the Crystal Sea salt in water for nitrite?

This article may be interesting:
Nitrite and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rhf/index.htm

 

[Dennis Shade]

I have tested the Crysatl Sea salt water and it also comes back with a 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate, 0 ammonia, and 0 phosphates.

I had alreay printed the Article you mention above. It kinda confused meon my first read, but I am reading it a second time.

I'm wondering if the nitrites could be coming from my live rock ?, due to having to scrub it in salt water to take off the algea. It was only out of water for about 30 seconds from one tank and placed in the new main tank.

I tested the water at my initial set up and it registered all good.

I'm going to do a large water change tonite to see if this helps. Is there any other idaes/things I should be looking at or trying?

Thanks again!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The nitrite could be coming from cycling that has not yet completed. Options including waiting to see if it drops (maybe with diluting the sample to bring it on scale), getting another kit to confirm, or ignoring the nitrite altogether.

I wouldn't expect a water change to solve the problem, although it should lower it.

 

[Dennis Shade]

Thanks,
I've used drip test's and even test strips (Which I find unrealiable) but then end result is alomost alway's the same. drip max 5.0 nitrite/ strip nitrite 10.0. My nitrates are: drip 10.0/ strip 10.0-20.0. I think I'm going to try a water change, and wait a few days.

Thanks for all the help!!!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OK, then I'd wait a while and see what happens. There really isn't a lot that one can do to speed things up, except perhaps buy some of the prepackaged bacteria, and I do not know if they even really help.

 

[Dennis Shade]

OK, thanks for the help!!!

 

[Habib]

I would consider seeding the tank with just a small piece of quality liverock.