nitrite and nitrate problem

[johnnytrinh]

What is your ammonia?

Don't have ammonia test. Haven't got a chance to get an better test kit. Still using the 5 in 1 test strips. But if the nitrate and nitrite is dropping. The ammonia should be too right?

[cu0ngsayz]

tired of waiting already ahah

hahah says the guy that took for ever to put a 40 gallon together. "whats the rush" lol

[cu0ngsayz]

Don't have ammonia test. Haven't got a chance to get an better test kit. Still using the 5 in 1 test strips. But if the nitrate and nitrite is dropping. The ammonia should be too right?

told you get the test kit online...

[Bakapuma]

Here is the thing. Your nitrite may be 0 but remember that ammonia will be metabolized into nitrite then nitrate. If you have completed the water change and you are reading 0 on all three then you cycle is over. You can of course assume that you are cycled but I know I like to be sure. You can get ammonia test kits at LFS around town.

[wesleydnunder]

I think your test strips are giving you bad info. Without something in the system to use up the nitrate, the only way to go from 200 ppm to 10 ppm is a 95% water change. Get a proper test kit ASAP.

Mark

[rage]

I think your test strips are giving you bad info. Without something in the system to use up the nitrate, the only way to go from 200 ppm to 10 ppm is a 95% water change. Get a proper test kit ASAP.

Mark

+1.

Your bacteria turns Ammonia into Nitrite, another kind of bacterias turns Nitrite into Nitrate. But Nitrate stays in your system unless you remove it by water change or you have macro algae or plants that consume nitrate.
If neither is the case then your test kit is faulty.

[johnnytrinh]

+1.

Your bacteria turns Ammonia into Nitrite, another kind of bacterias turns Nitrite into Nitrate. But Nitrate stays in your system unless you remove it by water change or you have macro algae or plants that consume nitrate.
If neither is the case then your test kit is faulty.

I have the skimmer, cheato, Marco algae, and mangroves in sump if that's what your asking. Someone on here said that it would spike at the end of the cycle also. Will get an better test kit though before I add any live stock in there.

[wesleydnunder]

I have the skimmer, cheato, Marco algae, and mangroves in sump if that's what your asking. Someone on here said that it would spike at the end of the cycle also. Will get an better test kit though before I add any live stock in there.

They're correct. At the end of the cycle is when you'll have the highest nitrate spike so far. The chaeto, macro and mangroves will suck up nitrates so a large fall isn't out of the realm of possibility. With that said, I'm glad you're getting a good test kit. It will go a long way toward helping troubleshoot problems in the future. Make sure to read the instructions for each test before performing it. Some of them have specific requirements (shaking reagent bottles before adding drops, etc.) and will give false readings if not done per instructions.

Mark

[rage]

I have the skimmer, cheato, Marco algae, and mangroves in sump if that's what your asking. Someone on here said that it would spike at the end of the cycle also. Will get an better test kit though before I add any live stock in there.

The skimmer removes waste before it can become ammonia.
Chaeto can consume nitrate. You need a jungle of mangroves to absorb nitrate.

I think it's hard for nitrate to go from 200ppm to 10 ppm without water change.

[Bakapuma]

Mangroves and macro algae can remove a small percentage of nitrate and phosphates. This flora is more for maintance bewteen water changes. Regular water changes take the bulk of these two away. So long as your water is not the source of the dreaded nitrate and phosphates. There are some clams and soft corals that consume nitrates. I hippos(sp) clams and anthalea (sp) are both nitrate absorbers. Still nothing beats water changes. It does sound like you have a sound set up though :)

[wesleydnunder]

The skimmer removes waste before it can become ammonia.
Chaeto can consume nitrate. You need a jungle of mangroves to absorb nitrate.

I think it's hard for nitrate to go from 200ppm to 10 ppm without water change.

Mangroves and macro algae can remove a small percentage of nitrate and phosphates. This flora is more for maintance bewteen water changes. Regular water changes take the bulk of these two away. So long as your water is not the source of the dreaded nitrate and phosphates. There are some clams and soft corals that consume nitrates. I hippos(sp) clams and anthalea (sp) are both nitrate absorbers. Still nothing beats water changes. It does sound like you have a sound set up though :)

Good to know, guys. Thanks. Rate of nitrate metabolism by flora depends on several factors. I thought the three listed were better scrubbers.

Mark