Added two new fish and my Nitrites are starting to rise?

It looks like you have a nice set-up (except for maybe the bio-balls).

If you took out all of your live rock, yes, your wet/dry is now your filter, but you would have also removed a large population of bacteria along with it. Your system is going through a small adjustment period.

So, did you start out with a FOWLR and then switch to FO?

Running a constant low level of copper may not be the best thing long term. IMO, fish stores do that to keep their fish semi healthy until they are sold. It's far more effective to do a two week QT of Prazi and copper before adding fish to the DT. On my FOWLR system, I have had to dose Cupramine twice now, and the copper was easily removed with Cuprisorb.

 

Thanks, I started it off as a FO tank but then the trigger died. When he died the nitrites where high and I didn't want to put a fish in with it so high so I picked up live rock to finish the cycle. After having good water for a week I thought I would be good but I am starting to get worried.

One of the hardest things for me right now is deciding what's right. About 10 years ago I had a saltwater tank with under gravel filters and two biowheels. Now after college is over and I have a house I wanted a tank again. I went into the LFS asking about undergravels and they thought I was nuts! So I went with what he recommended. Then I started researching stuff and found 3reef. I posted some questions and just about everything conflicted with LFS and LFS conflicted with what I had 10 years ago? Anyway, I appreciate everbodies help. My goal is to gain knowledge and learn what works and 3reef is a great start... Jeff

 

I didn't read anywhere that he removed any LR... so that question is confusing me... I think he just asked about adding LR ( you can add base rock (dead) and it will become live eventually, yes it will help with nitrates, but not over night).


Also, looking at posters parameters, it appears he already has copper in this tank (you need to find the source and remove it pronto IMO) and is using coppersafe to remove the copper, not to medicate the fish...

at least that's how i read this thread...

good luck

 

Sorry about that. I did remove the live rock after the cycle was over. I think they read it from the comments on the spreadsheet attached in the OP. I removed it because they said the copper would kill evrything that makes it a live rock? I also added copper, it's not foriegn from a unknown area. I guess it was a little confusing... Jeff

 

I just noticed on your spreadsheet that you're running your tank at 1.018-1.017? I would shoot for something like 1.025. Not that it has anything to do with your nitrites...still kinda odd.

 

I was told for FO a lower saltinity is ideal?

 

Peredhil, I got the comments from the spreadsheet, not the posts.

You should remove the copper and put the liverock back in, and don't worry so much about the nitrates for a FOWLR. An Undy is a bold move, IMO, for a FOWLR, unless that's the only fish you intend to keep.

I don't know what your wet/dry looks like, but the bio-balls should be removed. They will only clog with debris over time. The liverock will house the bacteria that you need.

Also, I don't recall that you had a skimmer, that would help. Just maintain good flow in the tank and don't overfeed and you should be good. Take it sloooow.

 

Yes, it's odd for a reef, but for a fish tank it's fine. It's one of the reasons that hyposalinity works well. With less salt in the water, it's less stress on the fish to manage the salt in their bodies.

 

Correct I am not so worried about Nitrates, its the Nitrites that have me worried. Yeah the Undulated trigger was only gonna be used to cycle the tank and then taken back to the store for credit. I was told the same thing, its just to aggressive to keep with other fish.

For my filtration it is bio-balls in a sump (see attached pic) and a Vertex IN-100 skimmer. Right now I am running a filter pad in the sump to catch all the debris before hitting the bio-balls. I am really thinking about just making a 30 gallon sump...

Thanks for all your input and help, K+ to you...Jeff

 

forgot pic....