Need help.

[Greyknight741]

I have a saltwater reef tank. It's fairly new just about four or five months. I just added my first coral frag and my wife without telling me added a blue starfish. The nitrates have spiked to almost 20ppm. But my nitrites are at 0. And my ammonia is close to 0 if not 0. I just added some prime to it. What should I do? I'm thinking a water change tomorrow after work.

 

[JosephM]

I have a saltwater reef tank. It's fairly new just about four or five months. I just added my first coral frag and my wife without telling me added a blue starfish. The nitrates have spiked to almost 20ppm. But my nitrites are at 0. And my ammonia is close to 0 if not 0. I just added some prime to it. What should I do? I'm thinking a water change tomorrow after work.

As long as ammonia is not present you shouldn’t be too worried. Although 20ppm is considered high for many reefers, some do successfully keep it up for a ‘dirty’ tank. Prime is smart just in case there is any lingering nitrites and/or ammonia to detoxify it. You could start with a small water change and see what that does.