Nitrate and Nitrite in 12g. Normal?

R

rescue

AC Members

Jun 5, 2008

19

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Long Island, NY

• Jun 28, 2008

• #1

Hi everyone,

Hopefully somebody out there can help.
I have a 12g saltwater with 2 clownfish and a live rock.

My pH level is between 8.2 and 8.4.
Nitrate is 20ppm
Nitrite is 5.0ppm
Ammonia is 0.

Nitrate and nitrite levels are high..

Now is that normal?? ... If not, partial water change right?

 

SpockthePuffer

AC Members

Jan 2, 2008

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Pittsburgh

• Jun 28, 2008

• #2

Nitrite should be 0, is your tank cycled?

 

R

rescue

AC Members

Jun 5, 2008

19

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0

Long Island, NY

• Jun 28, 2008

• #3

Right. Cycling might be an issue.. I've only had it for a month now.. Perhaps it hasn't completely cycled yet..

 

Amphiprion

Contain the Excitement...

Feb 14, 2007

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Mobile, Alabama

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Andrew

• Jun 28, 2008

• #4

It doesn't sound like it is fully cycled. Luckily for you and the fish, both nitrate and nitrite are quite non-toxic in seawater (even nitrite, contrary to popular belief, needs to be very, very high to actually cause casualties in seawater). I would still do a series of water changes to get those levels lower and to help speed things along.

 

R

rescue

AC Members

Jun 5, 2008

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Long Island, NY

• Jun 28, 2008

• #5

ok will do . thanks !

 

Andrew225

A little bit of everything

Jun 26, 2007

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Colorado

• Jun 29, 2008

• #6

In addition, most clownfish are fairly hardy, so you should be safe.
(( I also have a twelve gallon with a single Ocellaris clown fish and live rock)

When you can, i'd love to see some pics!

 

J

journey0820

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Jan 31, 2008

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• Jun 29, 2008

• #7

YOu can expect as the nitrite lowers to see the nitrate go up for a short time until that cycles through too. Adding cheato or caulerpa will help cycle the nitrate more quickly.