Nitrite problems

[Angie]

A few weeks ago we restarted a marine tank. It is 270 liters and we have 2
clowns and 2 damsels in the tank. We have came accross a nitrite and amonia
problem that we can not seem to get rid of. We have put some bio balls in
the tank along with some "Easylife" and that seemed to have helped with the
amonia but the Nitrite is still high. We even went as far as a complete
water change as a last resort.

Can anyone sugest what we can do as we are at our wits end.

[Billy]

"Angie" > wrote in message
...
|A few weeks ago we restarted a marine tank. It is 270 liters and we
have 2
| clowns and 2 damsels in the tank. We have came accross a nitrite
and amonia
| problem that we can not seem to get rid of. We have put some bio
balls in
| the tank along with some "Easylife" and that seemed to have helped
with the
| amonia but the Nitrite is still high. We even went as far as a
complete
| water change as a last resort.
|

What kind of filtration? If there is no Liverock in the tank, you
need a good place for the bacteria to thrive, and in a fish-only (FO)
tank that place is a filter with good media or a bio-wheel. Whatever
filter you have, leave it be with no tampering. Do smallish water
changes as needed to keep nitrites in check until the bacteria gets
going. Are there detectable nitrAtes yet? If so, this would indicate
that the cycle is trying to get going.
Where did you place the bio-balls? It sounds like you just
dropped them in the tank? This won't be very efficient.

billy


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