I think I am screwed - URGENT HELP PLEASE

[k2-]

My system has gone too far , approximately 250 gallon -

Nh3 - 0
no2 - 0
No3 - 239 - Checked with 3 different kits numerous times - including hanna, API all pointing above 200 number
Phosphate - 0.06

All other parameters are normal (Ph, Salinity, Alk, CA, Mg).
RODI water is pristine.
Switched over to using Zeovit method.

Do i have any other option but a 100% water change ? Roughly even 90% water change will bring me to 23.9.


Corals - no sign of stress all fluffy - SPS extending their polyps and LPS are good too. / fish are good and no sign of stress - but failure is certain only a matter of time.

20% water change was just day before yesterday.

HELP PLEASE.

 

[Tamberav]

Soo how would it have gotten to 239? What was it before that? and when?

Hannah only goes up to 75 per their website. Sooo? Where is this "239" coming from?

I would be hesitant to freak out and do something drastic with all corals looking good.

 

[Eienna]

That's nitrate, correct? Bring it down slowly. Make sure you have nothing dead in the tank that's causing the high nitrate. I would suggest four 25% changes, over the course of four days. Drastic changes can stress your corals far more than the high numbers.

 

[V A R I A N T]

239 is a very exact and precise number. What brand test kit displayed this result? I wouldn’t make any changes until N03 is confirmed, including testing a fresh batch of saltwater with the same kits.

 

[Eienna]

That's a good point, there may be something wrong with the salt. Definitely test some newly-made saltwater. 200+ is weird to have hit all the sudden.

 

[k2-]

Hi Guys, Good questions.
- 239 is achieved with 1:10 dilution and getting a result of 23.9
- Tested 2 times with full salt water and 1:2 dilution and got flashing 75 and deep red reagent (almost blood like)
- Tested the salt water mix and its near .5 on nitrate HR kit

Just added some bio bricks to the system to see if there is an improvement since using zeovit KZ method i am little skeptical of adding anything - still added a bare minimum dose of carbon just in case.

Thank you for the tip on not trying to do too much. However come to think of it, i added few emerald crabs (around 10 of them ) in the system. may be that could have (if one of them died somewhere).

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Hi Guys, Good questions.
- 239 is achieved with 1:10 dilution and getting a result of 23.9
- Tested 2 times with full salt water and 1:2 dilution and got flashing 75 and deep red reagent (almost blood like)
- Tested the salt water mix and its near .5 on nitrate HR kit

Just added some bio bricks to the system to see if there is an improvement since using zeovit KZ method i am little skeptical of adding anything - still added a bare minimum dose of carbon just in case.

Thank you for the tip on not trying to do too much. However come to think of it, i added few emerald crabs (around 10 of them ) in the system. may be that could have (if one of them died somewhere).

If you have one emerald crab die in a 250 gallons system causing nitrates of that level I think you’ve got way more issues than that

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I put 10 cubes of food in my 250 gallons system a day and have a nitrate of 7. I would look elsewhere besides the emerald crabs even if all 10 of them died it would not caused this

 

[Eienna]

Bio bricks generally won't do jack until they are colonized with bacteria.
I don't think your new salt water should be testing with any nitrate. You might want to call the company and ask. You said you tested the RO water, correct? Keep in mind that salt test kits won't work right for fresh water. I really believe your salt mix may be contaminated. You may have hit a pocket in the mix where it was particularly bad.

 

[ReeferMonkey]

you said system looks great and your going to change something? do a waterchange and chillax bro...

 

[k2-]

Yeah - I am not sure - thats the only change in last 2 weeks, 3 weeks ago my nitrates were 3.2 (used LR kit).

 

[Eienna]

Edited my last response. To reiterate, I definitely believe your salt mix may be contaminated, and you probably hit a pocket where it was particularly bad. I'd call the company and not use the rest of the bucket.

 

[k2-]

I tested the salt mix (some of which was still left) from this weekends water change.

Yes i understand that bio-brick wont do something right away but hopefully slowly it might help. I have another one which is soaking in Biobacter 7 and will add it tomorrow morning.

 

[Eienna]

IDK...it's just really really weird.

 

[k2-]

I put 10 cubes of food in my 250 gallons system a day and have a nitrate of 7. I would look elsewhere besides the emerald crabs even if all 10 of them died it would not caused this

Yeah then its definitely not them.

 

[Lavey29]

I would take a water sample to your LFS for a second opinion test. I'm pretty sure that high of level would impact fish at some point. I don't think your number is accurate unless you have no filtration export at all for months.

 

[k2-]

you said system looks great and your going to change something? do a waterchange and chillax bro...

hmmm I have Learned the hard way so trying to get ahead of it.

Another observation - Noticed grafted Monti frag is bleaching.

 

[k2-]

I would take a water sample to your LFS for a second opinion test. I'm pretty sure that high of level would impact fish at some point. I don't think your number is accurate unless you have no filtration export at all for months.

Good idea - i will do that tomorrow morning. However like i said - used API test and multiple times tested with kit and newer reagent. So i am not so sure.

 

[Eienna]

I would take a water sample to your LFS for a second opinion test. I'm pretty sure that high of level would impact fish at some point. I don't think your number is accurate unless you have no filtration export at all for months.

They tried three different kits and it was consistent. I would think that's proof enough. They may want to consult an expert, though.

To the OP: Did you happen to disturb a spot in the sandbed you haven't really kept clean?

 

[Eienna]

If you want to salvage the monti, I'd try putting it somewhere it gets more flow and less light for now. I'm not really qualified to give advice about the corals, but...just a suggestion.