Nitrite Wont Go Down!!

no it doesnt... i just got back from there... i bought new sand, a new filter, and salt... im going to start all over... i also left my fish there... im currently emptying my tank...
should i fill it up with tap water or drinking water?
 
Test both for phosphates and nitrates to see what they say, Although out of the two I'd go for drinking water as you don't know if the tap water has been run through copper pipes.

I'd also seriously look at investing in an RO unit for the future.
 
Something like this. The easiest way to describe it, is that it takes all of your nasties out of the water making it perfect for fish. It will take out all phosphates, nitrAtes etc which cause nasty algae blooms.
 
wat is an RO unit?

I'd seriously do a lot more reading on marine keeping before even contemplating starting again if you are having to ask questions like this. Marine keeping is as much about keeping water as it is the life that lives in it.
Once you gain a knowledge of how to keep water and what parameters are required to keep your stock healthy then think about keeping livestock.

Sorry if this sounds harsh
 
hey guys, thanks for all the reply's... ive been ontop of all my reading, and you guys where right theres ALOT to learn before i get started...
ive starting cycling my tank again though, and the shrimp is in to start creating ammonia hopefully...
im waiting for my ammonia reading to get up to 4ppm until i can remove the shrimp and let the tank keep cycling without any fish...

i will keep you guys posted on all my reading as they improve/get worse!

thanks again for all the help again guys! couldnt have done anything without you guys!
 
I believe you got wrong info about the shrimp but I have never used that method. Once you remove the ammonia source, the tank stops cycling.
 
I believe you got wrong info about the shrimp but I have never used that method. Once you remove the ammonia source, the tank stops cycling.

I had never heard or used the shrimp method until I joined AC. When I started my very first tank, I put in the water, salt, rock and sand and sat back and waited - eight and a half weeks.

When I cycled my newest tank, I used the shrimp method. When my ammonia reached 4 I took out the shrimp and waited for the cycle to finish. It took 3/4 weeks.

My first tank was a 30 gal, my most recent tank is a 35 gal.

From my experience alone I would recommend the shrimp method. There are a lot of people who have used this method and Robert Fenner even makes mention of it in "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist".

I'd rather use a shrimp or food than any kind of chemical that claims to speed up a cycle.

Here's a link on ways to cycle a tank.
 
AquariaCentral.com