new tank cycle 5 weeks later super high nitrates

[Michael pugh]

so I started my 75 gallon tank build. I started with dry rock and sand. added a bottle of dr Tim's one and only and dosed the ammonia. 5 weeks later I tested and have 0 ammonia but super high nitrates via red sea test. does no3 go down on its own? should I add algea? should I run carbon? should I run my skimmer? I'm clueless but I dont want to do something and it be wrong.

also why would after the ammonia my ph go to 6.8. I did a 20 gallon water change per instructions on dr Tim's website. still fought the lower ph. so I dosed kalk. Into my ato to keep the ph between 7.8 and 8.1

using reef Crystal's and salinity at 1.025

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yep. Run the skimmer.
What is the no3 at?
I belive your ph test is incorrect.
And don’t sweat the ph AT ALL.

There is nothing in the tank right now that cares. And nothing that will use the co2.

Yes , might be a good time to start the Refugium if you like. Not imperative.

If the no3 down not go down after a couple water changes (make sure to re test and maybe compare to a lfs)
You may still have some organics braking down from the rocks or shrimp if you used one

 

[Michael pugh]

the ph is monitored by apex probe and it was calibrated recently. weird thing is I got some diatom bloom going on. which I feel is typical. the skimmer needs to be broken in i guess cause it just foams over the cup. but it is used and I cleaned it with vinegar.

 

[Michael pugh]

just checked and noticed my skimmer height was to deep. I adjusted it within the correct water depth. I'll keep it running and see what happens

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

6.8 is awfully low and I’m fairly sure Very bad things would happen.
I’d recalibrate , and honestly an api ph kit is a cheap double check.

Yea, diatoms are normal.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

just checked and noticed my skimmer height was to deep. I adjusted it within the correct water depth. I'll keep it running and see what happens

Sweet!!

 

[Michael pugh]

I read the artical dr Tim wrote on fishless cycle and the low ph is caused by the nitrogen cycle

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I read the artical dr Tim wrote on fishless cycle and the low ph is caused by the nitrogen cycle

6.8 will dissolve live rock. Aragonite. Coral skeleton.
Like in a calcium reactor.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_reactor


In the nitrogen cycle ph is lowered because of the co2 the bacteria is exhaling. It won’t make it 6.8 I’d wager. A cal reactor uses bottled co2.

 

[PatW]

You can decrease nitrates by brute force water changes. Or you can carbon dose your tank, usually vodka or vinegar, if you have ample skimming capacity. Or you can put macroalgae in a refugium with a light source and let the algae growth absorb the nitrates.

Generally, you will have high nitrates after cycling the tank. Your tank will go through a series of different algae growing in the tank. It is normal.

 

[Jeepguy242]

How does the water stay in the tank sideways like that?


Lol