nitrite problem

S

stuart_nash83

AC Members
Dec 31, 2005
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how do i get my nitrite down?

i have a vision 460 and has a low nitrate level. have recently set up a small tank for breeding clown fish it is 40 litres. i have taken water, live sand and rock out of my 460 large tank and added it to the small one with an bubble anenome and my nitrate is so high 1.6!

im doing a water change now with new water but cant see why it is so high when my larger tanks water is perfect.

any advise will be much appreciated.
 
The water has spiked because of a difference in bioload. most likely the main had a large supply of poo etc and now you have removed that source of food and the cycle has started all over again, remove the bubble tip back into the main, and if you removed a large amount of LR and LS you should put it back into the bigger tank, because that will spike aswell, you should have done it slowly, moving small amount to decrease the amount of potential problems in the future ie, high nitrites/nitrates etc.
 
thank you for your advise. i did move my rock and sand in slowly. i started off with the live sand and water then after that added live rock the anenome was added with the last piece of rock as it was deeply attached so i could not remove the bugger! i was planning to have him in the small tank eventually anyway as i have had a lot of trouble with him eating my fish, which i know is very unusual for a bubble but have witnessed him eating one of his poor victims. i am going to leave all in the small tank and just keep with the regular changes, as i can not put them back again in the large tank and disturb all my fish again. is there any other way to get my nitrite down? without moving the rocks back to the tank.

thanks stuart
 
I could be wrong. but adding Bio-Spira has helped me before.
 
Are you talking about nitrITE or nitRATE? They are two different things. You should only have detectable amounts of nitrITE (NO2) during cycling periods. NitrATE (NO3) is a byproduct of the nitrification process and a challenge to reefers to minimize.

I think you're talking about NitRATE in which case the best ways to reduce in a small tank such as yours is via water changes and the addition of macro-algae like caulerpa or chaetomorpha.
 
He said nitrites, and they have been caused in the small tank, because there was an established LVL of bacteria in the main tank, because he has removed the water and LR and LS, there is less poo and detriuts water in the new tank, this means the cycle has started all over again, and it should settle down in a week or so, the bacteria just has to reach an equalibrium.
 
yes i was speaking of nitrite, i will continue my water changes and remove the anenome until it is stable. i was dreading removing him as i know he'll wonder somewhere i wont be able to reach him without dismantaling my tank. could it be the anenome letting off the nitrite? i heard they realise it as waste...nitrite and nitrate are confusing but its def nitrite im high on everything elce is more or less perfect.

thanks for your help.
 
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