What should nitrate and nitrite levels be in a saltwater aquarium?

[Jess5023]

Hello
I was wondering what is the okay amount of nitrate and nitrite levels be in a saltwater aquarium?(with just fish no corals yet)

 

[fishski13]

Nitrite should be 0 once fully cycled and nitrate for fish only can be higher compared to with coral. I would probably keep it under 30ish still. You also want to take a look at your phosphate levels. You dont want to have sky rocket nitrates and no phosphate as an imbalance can cause algae and other problems for you.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Hello
I was wondering what is the okay amount of nitrate and nitrite levels be in a saltwater aquarium?(with just fish no corals yet)

Nitrite is irrelevant in a saltwater tank (unless you're cycling and trying to understand high nitrate levels)

 

[Jess5023]

Nitrite is irrelevant in a saltwater tank (unless you're cycling and trying to understand high nitrate levels)

Is like 3ppm of nitrite okay?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Is like 3ppm of nitrite okay?

Is your tank cycled? What are your ammonia and nitrate levels?

 

[Jess5023]

Is your tank cycled? What are your ammonia and nitrate levels?

I've been cycling my tank for about 5 weeks my ammonia is 0 and nitrate is 20

 

[Doogs]

Once the tank is cycled, there really is no point in monitoring nitrite. Nitrates are different depending on general guidelines of FOWLR or with coral. It also depends on the tank as mine hover around 20-25ppm. Some people say to do a WC above 20 ppm. My fish and corals are happy and I do my 25% weekly water change regardless because that’s the stability I created.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I've been cycling my tank for about 5 weeks my ammonia is 0 and nitrate is 20

When was your last water change, and what percentage did you change?

 

[Jess5023]

When was your last water change, and what percentage did you change?

I did a water change about 2 weeks ago about 50 percent because my nitrate and nitrite was really high

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I did a water change about 2 weeks ago about 50 percent because my nitrate and nitrite was really high

Do a 10-20% change now and see what that drops the nitrite to...

 

[Jess5023]

Do a 10-20% change now and see what that drops the nitrite to...

Okay I will do it now!

 

[blecki]

If you're using API or similar tests, and measuring nitrite, your nitrate reading is wrong. Once you're cycled you shouldn't ever have nitrite - it gets converted to nitrate just as fast as ammonia is turned into nitrite so it really never matters.

 

[Jess5023]

If you're using API or similar tests, and measuring nitrite, your nitrate reading is wrong. Once you're cycled you shouldn't ever have nitrite - it gets converted to nitrate just as fast as ammonia is turned into nitrite so it really never matters.

Okay thank you

 

[Jess5023]

Do a 10-20% change now and see what that drops the nitrite to...

I did a water change and it went to 1ppm

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I did a water change and it went to 1ppm

You're fine. Don't bother measuring nitrite any more

 

[Jess5023]

You're fine. Don't bother measuring nitrite any more

Okay thank you!