High nitrates still after 70% water change

[Defff21]

Hello
My fluval evo tank has just recently cycled and my nitrates where at about 200 so I done a big water change and now there still the same I was going to add livestock today, should I do another 1?
I got a hermit crab yesterday just to make sure my tanks alright and he's still fine.

Greatful for any advice

 

[piranhaman00]

Hello,

Are you sure the cycle is finished? What is NO2 at? I’m guessing faulty test because of NO2 presence.

 

[acropora4u]

how about dosing vodka... there is a calculator online that shows how. I have done it on my new 225 and it works great!

 

[Miller535]

Hello
My fluval evo tank has just recently cycled and my nitrates where at about 200 so I done a big water change and now there still the same I was going to add livestock today, should I do another 1?
I got a hermit crab yesterday just to make sure my tanks alright and he's still fine.

Greatful for any advice

Do not add livestock until you figure this out. And a hermit crab is no indicator of if your tank is cycled or not. How did you cycle your tank? And how long did it take to cycle.

 

[Defff21]

Hello,

Are you sure the cycle is finished? What is NO2 at? I’m guessing faulty test because of NO2 presence.

I have some nitrites but my tank is nearly 2 months old plus I read something interesting I heard from @brandon429 that is on chem forums that nitrite isn't actually harmful when present and testers hardly ever measure it accurately as well
Have a read

The microbiology of reef tank cycling.

You can skip your cycle. Ive been reefing online for twenty years and have never waited one second for a tank to cycle, because I buy rocks that are already cycled and move them home. Here's two: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/octo-high-end-sps-skip-cycle-build.713256/...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Defff21]

Do not add livestock until you figure this out. And a hermit crab is no indicator of if your tank is cycled or not. How did you cycle your tank? And how long did it take to cycle.

My tank is about 7 weeks old
I used Dr Tim's one and only nitrifying bacteria.
It was processing 2ppm ammonia in 24 hrs daily
Then I asked on this about my nitrites and I was told they aren't actually harmful one way to check is to put in livestock in like hermit crabs and of there still okay in couple of days go ahead and add fish?

This is my first tank

 

[Reefer1978]

What testkit are you using?

 

[Reefer1978]

And are you using RODI water for water changes?

 

[CCauthers]

I would definitely not add anything else until you get this figured out, nitrates that high is very bad for almost anything to thrive in. I would check your source water, because if it is contaminated then any water change you do will just raise nitrates and other undesirable parameters.

 

[Miller535]

I know Brandon claims that and claims a large numbers of others too. I have also seen a large number that claim the opposite. I don't know which is true. Like I said, IMO a hermit is no indicator of the tank for other livestock like fish. I have a really hard time believing your tank has Nitrate of 200 if all you added was Dr Tims. What test kit are you using? Normally I would recommend going to a local LFS and having them verify your nitrates, but depending where you live that may not be possible right now.

Did you use live rock or dry rock?

 

[Amanda1990]

Are you using test strips or something weird to test your nitrates?

 

[Dom]

how about dosing vodka... there is a calculator online that shows how. I have done it on my new 225 and it works great!

In my view, dosing isn't the answer. We have to get to the root of the problem and correct it. Too often, people run to the LFS and look for a solution in the bottle.

At this stage, we are building a foundation for the tank. I would worry that relying on dosing at this point in the tank's life will lead to a cascading effect and a tank life riddled with issues.

 

[Defff21]

I know Brandon claims that and claims a large numbers of others too. I have also seen a large number that claim the opposite. I don't know which is true. Like I said, IMO a hermit is no indicator of the tank for other livestock like fish. I have a really hard time believing your tank has Nitrate of 200 if all you added was Dr Tims. What test kit are you using? Normally I would recommend going to a local LFS and having them verify your nitrates, but depending where you live that may not be possible right now.

Did you use live rock or dry rock?

I just used dry rock and coral sand
I buy my saltwater ready mixed from the store and the salinity is perfect
I tested the water I have from there in containers for nitrates and nitrites and it is zero
I use rodi water for any evaporation which is tiny amount as I have a tank cover.
I am using a Jbl nitrate and nitrite test kit, maybe I should buy better ones like the red sea test kits? I have red sea for my ammonia so I will.
And I won't add any more livestock.

And should I keep dosing ammonia as it is going to zero?

Thanks for the replys everyone

 

[Miller535]

In my view, dosing isn't the answer. We have to get to the root of the problem and correct it. Too often, people run to the LFS and look for a solution in the bottle.

At this stage, we are building a foundation for the tank. I would worry that relying on dosing at this point in the tank's life will lead to a cascading effect and a tank life riddled with issues.

I totally agree. Carbon dosing is appropriate SOME times in a mature tank, with the understanding of knowing you have to watch PO4 and NO3 and not have them bottom out.

 

[Defff21]

Are you using test strips or something weird to test your nitrates?

Glass viles with reagent then measuring up to colors on chart.

 

[Miller535]

I just used dry rock and coral sand
I buy my saltwater ready mixed from the store and the salinity is perfect
I tested the water I have from there in containers for nitrates and nitrites and it is zero
I use rodi water for any evaporation which is tiny amount as I have a tank cover.
I am using a Jbl nitrate and nitrite test kit, maybe I should buy better ones like the red sea test kits? I have red sea for my ammonia so I will.
And I won't add any more livestock.

And should I keep dosing ammonia as it is going to zero?

Thanks for the replys everyone

I would definitely get another kit, I use red sea and like it. And if possible get someone else to confirm it. I mean no offense by it, when most of us are new, we make testing mistakes. Especially with syringes. If it were me, I would stop doing the ammonia. If you kept doing ammonia for a long period of time, and your tank didn't have a method to export the nitrate, then it is possible that your nitrate reading is correct because you added so much ammonia

 

[Defff21]

What testkit are you using?

 

[Defff21]

I would definitely get another kit, I use red sea and like it. And if possible get someone else to confirm it. I mean no offense by it, when most of us are new, we make testing mistakes. Especially with syringes. If it were me, I would stop doing the ammonia. If you kept doing ammonia for a long period of time, and your tank didn't have a method to export the nitrate, then it is possible that your nitrate reading is correct because you added so much ammonia

Okay il do that thanks.. So for now its okay to leave my tank at zero ammonia for a couple days? Until I get everything sorted.

Bacteria will still survive and stuff

 

[piranhaman00]

Whether NO2 signifies a cycle is irrelevant to my post, NO2 will give false positive for NO3 and in high amounts.

Edit: Meaning a small amount of NO2 will give a false positive of a lot of NO3

 

[Miller535]

I use Red sea. There are other kits that i am sure are just as good. But I started using Red sea years ago and stuck with it. I have no experience with your kit.