Nitrate/nitrite

dobz55 · 11-19-2006, 06:37 PM

Hi again all, back after a hard weeks work anyway my Tank has been cycling for 6 weeks now still no fish lots of crabs etc from the live rock.CAN SOME-ONE PLS HELP,I cannot get my Nitrate levels down I have carried out 10% water changes every day and still no luck,
MY CURRENT CONDITIONS ARE,

Temp 25 celcius
Specific gravity 1.25
PH (car,nt get it any higher) 8.0-8.1
Alkalinity Normal has been stable all along
Nitrite 0.2 ppm
NITRATE 3-5 ppm

***Reefland*** · 11-19-2006, 07:02 PM

There is nothing wrong with a nitrate of 3-5ppm; in fact this is quite acceptable for a reef.

dobz55 · 11-19-2006, 07:06 PM

Thank you very very much I have been trying to achieve zero and thought I was doing something wrong, under these conditions that I have quoted do you think it is safe for me to introduce a fish or 2 to my tank

***Reefland*** · 11-19-2006, 07:08 PM

I think it is perfectly safe for you to add your first planned fish into the aqaurium.

dobz55 · 11-19-2006, 07:17 PM

yaaaaaaa finally 1 hour i,m off to my LFS would you be able to suggest a starter fish for me ,would a pair of clowns be the go or just a damsil at the mom (I would really love the clowns my LFS has a great looking pair in stock for $100 australian

***Reefland*** · 11-19-2006, 07:49 PM

Adding a pair of clowns should be just fine.

mistermikev · 11-20-2006, 03:00 PM

Like scott said: add a planned fish. People (myself) often add damsels to test the water and find out they don't really want a damsel... then you have to catch the son of a gun. Even if it is a $4 fish, it comes from the reef (some of the time)... don't be cruel. You are better off being patient, testing, and adding a fish you truly love.

mistermikev · 11-20-2006, 03:02 PM

PS I now have a dominoe damsel the size of afganistan, and I can't bring myself to sell him back to a fish store. He terrorizes anything I put in that tank. Nothing delecate going in that tank!

dobz55 · 11-20-2006, 05:07 PM

Thanks guys bought a pair of Tomato Clowns was worried when I got up this morning they didn,t look well , but I put some stress coat in the water and fed them they are eating and appear okay, although they are not moving around the tank appear to be staying in one corner

dobz55 · 11-20-2006, 05:28 PM

I was thinking next of a Queen Trigger my lfs has one it looks gr8 how do you think it will go with clown fish

mistermikev · 11-20-2006, 05:52 PM

Great! it will love their taste! LOL

mistermikev · 11-20-2006, 05:57 PM

You probably want to read up on triggers. I don't have one and never have, but have read that they are real fish eaters and not at all reef safe. This means no corals for you. My neighbor has one and it doesn't bother his fish but I would guess it's only a matter of time. Also they eat small shrimp so no shrimp for you. I would recommend you get a fire shrimp or other cleaner. That way if your fish get ich they will be in good hands and likely be cured b4 it's a problem. don't take my word for it I have a ltd amount of experience... go research!

dobz55 · 11-20-2006, 06:23 PM

I see okay there goes the trigger lol , in that case I would love to put something nice in that is resonably hardy any ideas

mistermikev · 11-20-2006, 08:46 PM

There are lots of things depending on the size of your tank and if you want to remain reefsafe. You probably want to keep your options open so I'd try and stay with reef safe. I looked at some images and wow, the queen trigger is a nice fish. I've always liked the undulated trigger too but they are generally a species only fish. I personally think the purple fire fish is one of the most beautifull fish there is... just do a google image search on it. They "fit" in a small tank and are relatively easy to take care of... I don't think they are subceptible to the ich which is the most common fish disease. Next on my list would be a wrasse. There are many different types. I have a hoeven's wrasse - very colorful and mine is quite freindly to other fish. Might want at lease a 40 or 55 gal tank for that though. You may also look at the six line wrasse as it is quite hardy once it gets going in your tank. It is small and could fit in a 30 or better. NOTE there are reef safe wrasses and then there are non reef safe wrasses... all the ones i'm mentioning are safe. Wrasses can be difficult to feed at first but live brine shrimp will conquer that if need be. I would do a google search on foster and smith... they tend to have reliable info and lots of pics of fish. All of them are listed by size of tank they fit in and whether they are reef safe. After you figure out what you like I would see if you can find it at a local store (shipping works but is an extra challenge and some consider it to be somewhat cruel). Does that help? Hope so!

dobz55 · 11-20-2006, 09:18 PM

thanks mike and yes it does help I am off to do a google search right now, and by your responce i guess you can see why the queen trigger caught my eye, by the way my tank is 55 gall 3ft x 18 x 18, I have actually just posted some pics on this site thank you very much for your kind advise

11-19-2006, 06:37 PM	#1
dobz55 Citizen Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 171	Nitrate/nitrite Hi again all, back after a hard weeks work anyway my Tank has been cycling for 6 weeks now still no fish lots of crabs etc from the live rock.CAN SOME-ONE PLS HELP,I cannot get my Nitrate levels down I have carried out 10% water changes every day and still no luck, MY CURRENT CONDITIONS ARE, Temp 25 celcius Specific gravity 1.25 PH (car,nt get it any higher) 8.0-8.1 Alkalinity Normal has been stable all along Nitrite 0.2 ppm NITRATE 3-5 ppm

11-19-2006, 07:02 PM	#2
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,175	There is nothing wrong with a nitrate of 3-5ppm; in fact this is quite acceptable for a reef. __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

11-19-2006, 07:08 PM	#4
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,175	I think it is perfectly safe for you to add your first planned fish into the aqaurium. __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

11-19-2006, 07:49 PM	#6
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,175	Adding a pair of clowns should be just fine. __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

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11-19-2006, 07:06 PM	#3
dobz55 Citizen Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 171	Thank you very very much I have been trying to achieve zero and thought I was doing something wrong, under these conditions that I have quoted do you think it is safe for me to introduce a fish or 2 to my tank

11-19-2006, 07:17 PM	#5
dobz55 Citizen Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 171	yaaaaaaa finally 1 hour i,m off to my LFS would you be able to suggest a starter fish for me ,would a pair of clowns be the go or just a damsil at the mom (I would really love the clowns my LFS has a great looking pair in stock for $100 australian

11-20-2006, 03:00 PM	#7
mistermikev Citizen Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: wi Posts: 207	Like scott said: add a planned fish. People (myself) often add damsels to test the water and find out they don't really want a damsel... then you have to catch the son of a gun. Even if it is a $4 fish, it comes from the reef (some of the time)... don't be cruel. You are better off being patient, testing, and adding a fish you truly love.

11-20-2006, 03:02 PM	#8
mistermikev Citizen Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: wi Posts: 207	PS I now have a dominoe damsel the size of afganistan, and I can't bring myself to sell him back to a fish store. He terrorizes anything I put in that tank. Nothing delecate going in that tank!

11-20-2006, 05:07 PM	#9
dobz55 Citizen Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 171	Thanks guys bought a pair of Tomato Clowns was worried when I got up this morning they didn,t look well , but I put some stress coat in the water and fed them they are eating and appear okay, although they are not moving around the tank appear to be staying in one corner

11-20-2006, 05:28 PM	#10
dobz55 Citizen Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 171	I was thinking next of a Queen Trigger my lfs has one it looks gr8 how do you think it will go with clown fish

11-20-2006, 05:52 PM	#11
mistermikev Citizen Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: wi Posts: 207	Great! it will love their taste! LOL

11-20-2006, 05:57 PM	#12
mistermikev Citizen Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: wi Posts: 207	You probably want to read up on triggers. I don't have one and never have, but have read that they are real fish eaters and not at all reef safe. This means no corals for you. My neighbor has one and it doesn't bother his fish but I would guess it's only a matter of time. Also they eat small shrimp so no shrimp for you. I would recommend you get a fire shrimp or other cleaner. That way if your fish get ich they will be in good hands and likely be cured b4 it's a problem. don't take my word for it I have a ltd amount of experience... go research!

11-20-2006, 06:23 PM	#13
dobz55 Citizen Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 171	I see okay there goes the trigger lol , in that case I would love to put something nice in that is resonably hardy any ideas

11-20-2006, 08:46 PM	#14
mistermikev Citizen Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: wi Posts: 207	There are lots of things depending on the size of your tank and if you want to remain reefsafe. You probably want to keep your options open so I'd try and stay with reef safe. I looked at some images and wow, the queen trigger is a nice fish. I've always liked the undulated trigger too but they are generally a species only fish. I personally think the purple fire fish is one of the most beautifull fish there is... just do a google image search on it. They "fit" in a small tank and are relatively easy to take care of... I don't think they are subceptible to the ich which is the most common fish disease. Next on my list would be a wrasse. There are many different types. I have a hoeven's wrasse - very colorful and mine is quite freindly to other fish. Might want at lease a 40 or 55 gal tank for that though. You may also look at the six line wrasse as it is quite hardy once it gets going in your tank. It is small and could fit in a 30 or better. NOTE there are reef safe wrasses and then there are non reef safe wrasses... all the ones i'm mentioning are safe. Wrasses can be difficult to feed at first but live brine shrimp will conquer that if need be. I would do a google search on foster and smith... they tend to have reliable info and lots of pics of fish. All of them are listed by size of tank they fit in and whether they are reef safe. After you figure out what you like I would see if you can find it at a local store (shipping works but is an extra challenge and some consider it to be somewhat cruel). Does that help? Hope so!

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11-20-2006, 09:18 PM	#15
dobz55 Citizen Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 171	thanks mike and yes it does help I am off to do a google search right now, and by your responce i guess you can see why the queen trigger caught my eye, by the way my tank is 55 gall 3ft x 18 x 18, I have actually just posted some pics on this site thank you very much for your kind advise