Disaster Control Nitrites Sky High

[psycho-killer]

hi there all sorry to ask so much quastions..

i tested my tank that has been running for a week now,the nitrites was at 4.0 after 3 days now its not even listed on the charts if there was a scale it would be 10 its as red as blood... im going to the petshop and wanted to get a cleanup crew but i guess thats a nono,my ammonia is down alot wich probaly dictates the high nitrite,think im gona get a hige trickle filter with poshos and avtivated carbon..

if my ammonia is 0.1 is quite low can i do a 100% water change and add a hermit crab or 2 ? or try and be patient and wait till everything is at 0 ?

thanks guys

 

[littleme1969]

Ok on the 100% water change.. but I would say no to adding anything yet. You shouldnt add anything really until you have had no ammonia and low nitrates for about a week so you know its stable. Most hermits/snails wont tolerate high nitrate levels.
Your tank is still going through it cycle so you should wait until its stable before adding anything. Was your rock cured? as withnitrates that high I would say it wasent, and if so it can take over 6 weeks to be stable.

 

[psycho-killer]

like they say patience is virtue, just had a though maybe i should use the 18gallon as a sump and get a 35 gallon as the main tanks, or do you think i should stay with the 18G ?

 

[gigmeyer]

like they say patience is virtue, just had a though maybe i should use the 18gallon as a sump and get a 35 gallon as the main tanks, or do you think i should stay with the 18G ?

Good job. You've answered your own question with patience. While you haven't listed what you are cycling with, the normal cycle is ammonia spike followed by nitrite spike followed by ammonia and nitrite reaching 0. This cycle can take days to weeks depending on how well cured the live rock is (assuming you are using live rock). Books will generally tell you the cycle will take weeks even with cured rock, so hang in there as everything seems to be going to plan. I believe water changes up to 50% are ok, but am not sure about 100%.

As far as a cleanup crew is concerned, both ammonia and nitrite should be 0 before thinking about adding the CUC. Not sure whether it matters which tank is the sump but would guess it doesn't.

 

[Musho3210]

bigger water volume = easier to keep parameters stable.