High Nitrates

[Saltwatertaylor]

My nitrates have been high for a few weeks. I have a theory but I want to hear what other peoples opinions are.
I received my fathers tank after it had been run over by apastia and not taken care of for around a year. I took everything out except the crushed coral at the bottom. The CC is about 2 inches thick and has been there for around four years. I dont believe my father syphoned it much. Everytime I do water changes the crushed coral seems to have a new layer of brown on top of it. Do you think I should take about half the water out, the fish, and the CC and rinse it off in a bucket and then put it back in the tank? Would this help my nitrates go down and cause the CC to return to its natural white look again?

 

[apicturepaints]

Brown like an algae perhaps? Have you tested for nitrates and phosphates? Deep-cleaning the tank and substantial water changes is the way to go. If the nitrates stay stubborn, I would recommend looking into vodka dosing or bio pellets. Vodka is the only thing that has worked for me.

 

[buddythelion]

Sounds like a cycle to me. Usually a well established tank wouldn't have to worry much for nitrates. The brown algae will go away in time, just keep up with the maintanence and water changes. Having some more clean up crews couldn't hurt too. And most people use sand rather than crushed coral from my understanding. I know crushed coral was used in cichlid tanks for their effect on pH.

 

[Mr. Limpid]

Just my .02 CC is large and can hold junk not like sand which is fine not allowing junk to settle down in it. If you have mostly fish, the food that dosn't get eaten can settle down in CC. Two things you can do; gravel grunge about a 3rd of your CC every 4 months or add bristle worms (they will burrow threw CC and eat all left over food).

 

[ritter6788]

I would remove the CC. If the tank is as bad as you say it was I'm sure there is a ton of build up inside all those broken shells. I'm not sure you could ever get it clean. I'd replace it with new sand or go bare bottom.

 

[gmoney243]

Get a sand sifting goby. He keeps my crushed coral white. Crushed coral comes from the ocean so its not just for cichlid tanks. Use some algae to combat nitrates suchs as a refugium or algae scrubber or biopellets.

Sent from my Vortex using Tapatalk 2

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Hmm. I really did want sand in the first place so this might just be enough to make me buy it. Also there is alot of stuff floating around in the water. Could it be from the crushed coral? Its constantly there before and after I syphon out the crushed coral? If I chose to use sand could I have a shallow sand bed? Whats the minimum amoutn of sand I could use in my 120g?

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

bump

 

[ritter6788]

Hmm. I really did want sand in the first place so this might just be enough to make me buy it. Also there is alot of stuff floating around in the water. Could it be from the crushed coral? Its constantly there before and after I syphon out the crushed coral? If I chose to use sand could I have a shallow sand bed? Whats the minimum amoutn of sand I could use in my 120g?

I add just enough sand to cover the bottom and help keep my rocks from shifting around. I also siphon it occasionally when I do water changes.

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Okay because I know the general rule is 1lb of sand per gallon, but I would like to do a little less than that. I want to keep it cheap and just have it cover the bottom like you said!

 

[Pkunk35]

I've always thought either go shallow or deep with sand bed.
Either 2 inches or less or 4 inches +.

If you go sugar sized sand, a shallow bed as Ritter described sounds ideal.

Personally I would just add detrivores to that dirty sand bed and keep up water changes and siphoning, but yes it will take some time to get it healthy again.

 

[Chameleon]

probably a mix of a new cycle due to stirred nutrients and high phosphates/nitrates. water changes will help bring them down but if you want to change substrates go for it