Nitrite in my qt!!

[Monster00101]

I have a 20 gallon qt with a yellow tang and a niger trigger. They have only been in there for 3 days and i changed 25% of the water and the nitrites r .50 again. I used the foam from my display. Is there something im doing wrong? How often should i change the water?

 

[Percula9]

Your QT is cycling. Nitrite shouldn't be a problem as it is difficult for it to pass through the gills due to competition with chloride. Put some live rock in the tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is this hyposalinity or normal reef salinity?

 

[Monster00101]

It is normal reef salinity. Should i use the rock from my display?

 

[returnofsid]

That's a lot of fish for a 20G, but I understand it's for QT purposes. Sounds like it's cycling. Nitrites aren't as harmful for SW fish as they are for FW. Just keep up on water changes. Might need to do 5 gallons daily.

 

[Monster00101]

wow 25% daily? would putting rock from my display help reduce the amount of water change?

 

[Monster00101]

Should i use rock from my display?

 

[bertoni]

The rock might help. I'd consider adding a bigger filter and waiting for it to become effective, to avoid contaminating the live rock. Nitrite isn't harmful at that level, so it can be ignored.

 

[Monster00101]

ok thanks for the piece of mind. I was pretty worried.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I agree, at normal salinity there is no concern about nitrite. Just keep a close eye on ammonia.

 

[Monster00101]

Thanks again

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

:thumbsup:

Good luck with the fish.

 

[Monster00101]

all goes well so far they look real happy and healthy