Label Residue causing Nitrate spike?

reacclimating 2 the hobby · Mar 20, 2023

Not sure if this fits under this forum, but thought I'd ask.

My Red Sea Max Nano Peninsula came with a label on the inside of the tank. I thought I had gotten it all but found some left over residue on the back wall. Could this be the reason behind my Nitrate reading 75+? This was prior to fish or lights being on in the tank. I've done several water changes, but can't seem to get them down.

What other information is needed? Not currently running the skimmer, but will start at night. No filter sock in the tank. Live sand and caribsea life rock to start the tank.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 20, 2023

No, labels or glue are not going to cause high nitrate.

Is the tank cycling? Just a bit of nitrite (less than 1 ppm with some kits) can cause a false nitrate readign that high.

reacclimating 2 the hobby · Mar 20, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
No, labels or glue are not going to cause high nitrate.

Is the tank cycling? Just a bit of nitrite (less than 1 ppm with some kits) can cause a false nitrate readign that high.

No ammonia or Nitrite on Red Sea tests. Nitrate flashing 75 on Hanna.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 20, 2023

reacclimating 2 the hobby said:
No ammonia or Nitrite on Red Sea tests. Nitrate flashing 75 on Hanna.

Do you get a near zero reading on new salt water? If the kit is working, you can always dilute the tank sample, 1 part into 10 parts new salt water, and get a reading, then multiply by 10.

Is the tank recently cycled? How?

reacclimating 2 the hobby · Mar 20, 2023

Tank was started on 2/14 with Bottle Bacteria, several in fact. Ammonia spiked, nitrite spiked and nitrate spiked. I got nitrates to read 30 on 3/15 and clowns were added 3/17. They've been fed twice since, frozen mysis. Very small amount. I've also since done 50% nd 25% water changes and dosed Microbacter7.

I got zero on just the RO water. I have not yet tested a fresh mix. That was next on my list.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 20, 2023

Did you add ammonia? How much? 30 ppm would need quite a bit of ammonia added, and the jump to 75 ppm+ in a few days more seems too large.

reacclimating 2 the hobby · Mar 20, 2023

I did not add any ammonia.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 20, 2023

reacclimating 2 the hobby said:
I did not add any ammonia.

How did you cycle? Just bacteria? No dead shrimp or some such thing?

reacclimating 2 the hobby · Mar 20, 2023

I just added bacteria and waited. As mentioned, probably overboard on the bacteria. I don't believe any said to ghost feed.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 20, 2023

reacclimating 2 the hobby said:
I just added bacteria and waited. As mentioned, probably overboard on the bacteria. I don't believe any said to ghost feed.

Then I do not believe the nitrate is accurate.

reacclimating 2 the hobby · Mar 20, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Then I do not believe the nitrate is accurate.

RS and Hanna

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 21, 2023

reacclimating 2 the hobby said:
RS and Hanna

Nevertheless, there's an issue of where the nitrate is coming from, and both tests are impacted to give false high readings by just a little nitrite, even if that test showed none.

A little nitrite in your situation makes far more sense than a huge amount of nitrate.

reacclimating 2 the hobby · Mar 21, 2023

Thank you sir! I'm going to make some water today and test that. I also rerun nitrite.

My tap water is very bad here and I use it to rinse the vials. I also rinse them in rodi water afterwards and let them air dry. Do you think the tap water residual in the vile could be part of the issue?