High Nitrates Problem

[Alan_Nunez16]

Hello everyone, so recently I set up a new 75g tank, it had a huge ammonia spike and now its full of nitrates to the top. I've done like two or three 25g changes and still no difference. Should i keep doing them or should i increase the amount. I know changing the water removes the bacteria and its bad especially for a new tank but this is a tank that i bought from someone else and it had already an established bacteria system on the rocks and filters. Is there anything i can buy that can also remove nitrates, like filters or any other products, or is just doing regular water changes the best plan? How much and how often will be the fastest way? Thank you all for all the help, yall have been really helpful

 

[Jasongtr]

How high is high?

What's your current filtration / nutrient export other than water changes?

How old is the tank?

What's it stocked with?

 

[Alan_Nunez16]

How high is high?

What's your current filtration / nutrient export other than water changes?

How old is the tank?

What's it stocked with?

its really red on the API test kit so I'm guessing 160 or more,
the tank was previously 9 years (per the previous owner) but after transportation I washed some of the rocks with RO because it had bristle worms and brittle starfish that did not make it after transporting and the sand rocks and tank since it wasn't that maintained that good, I didn't clean the filters to keep some of the bacteria. I saved like 15gals from that established tank too. There is a fluval 207 filter, a aqua hanging filter and a protein skimmer.
there is nothing on the tank at the moment,

 

[Jasongtr]

Ok, probably not the best to advise but, I assume you don't have a sump hence the external filter, we had one before we got our sumped tank and they are nasty things, I'd definitely clean it and rinse the media etc out in old tank water, also I would trust an api test kit either, that said if the test is done correctly I doubt any other kit at this stage will make much difference.

Are you through the cycling process? So zero ammonia and nitrite?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I second that you should clean the media of your tank. What about the cycling process, is that finished?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Nitrifying bacteria lives mainly on surfaces, not free floating in water, so water changes will not remove the bacteria. Continuing water changes should reduce nitrate. If it does not reduce, then I think it is test error.

Did you move the sandbed over without cleaning it? A 9 year old sandbed will definately release a lot of ammonia. Sand should always be carefully rinsed before adding to any tank.

 

[GARRIGA]

WC might not dilute nitrates faster than being produced. Look into carbon dosing (best start with 1/4 recommended) otherwise setting up an ATS or Fuge run properly will drop nitrates and often lower than wanted yet can be controlled based on photoperiod. Lots of videos on DIY and below what I built using a light and HOB as it appears you don't have a sump. Will also lower co2 if ran counter display lights and a healthy population of photosynthetic corals otherwise run it 24/7. Sometimes the simplest solution the best to execute.

If you fear having destroyed BB then perhaps bottled bacteria will help. Depends on your ammonia and nitrite levels. If those are correct then not needed yet won't hurt. I dose Microbacter 7 occasionally as nothing more than a feel good placebo and blind insurance policy. Several other bottled bacteria but really depends on what's needed such as quickest start based on testing on this forum being Fritz Turbo 900 although One and Only and Bio-Spira can get it going relatively fast as well.

 

[reefpanda]

Try with another test kit as my friend just had the same reading but got 20 for nitrates once he changed it. He brought the faulty test kit to try out on my tank and got 160

 

[Uncle99]

Hello everyone, so recently I set up a new 75g tank, it had a huge ammonia spike and now it’s full of nitrates to the top. I've done like two or three 25g changes and still no difference. Should i keep doing them or should i increase the amount. I know changing the water removes the bacteria and its bad especially for a new tank but this is a tank that i bought from someone else and it had already an established bacteria system on the rocks and filters. Is there anything i can buy that can also remove nitrates, like filters or any other products, or is just doing regular water changes the best plan? How much and how often will be the fastest way? Thank you all for all the help, yall have been really helpful

Water changes of a 1/3 rd should have reduced your nitrate by roughly 1/3. Something wrong if your test kit shows no changes.

 

[Jasongtr]

Water changes of a 1/3 rd should have reduced your nitrate by roughly 1/3. Something wrong if your test kit shows no changes.

Unless the api max reading is 160 and it was over that due to an uncleaned filter and used stirred up sand etc