Nitrate help

[folkertjar]

Hi everyone,

I’m still fairly new to the hobby I currently have a 150 gallon FOWLR that’s been up almost a year and need some help.

I just got back from vacation today to find my aquarium is very cloudy and the nitrates are very high. Before I left they were low/ almost 0. Before I left I did a 10% water change and rinsed off the sponge filter. I now know that you shouldn’t use tap water as I think I might’ve killed off too much bacteria.

I did a water change and dosed with prime but wondered if there’s anything else I should do.

stock list:

Porc Puffer
6 bar angel
Annularis angel
Foxface
2 Clarkii clowns
Sailfin tang

 

[MarineandReef Jaron]

Welcome to Reef2Reef.

It looks like you have a bacterial bloom. This is normally caused by a sudden influx of nutrients either from overfeeding or because something died. My guess is if you had a tank sitter they overfed the tank. I would closely watch Ammonia and Nitrite and use water changes to get them back under control if they spike up.

 

[bushdoc]

Second reefer above, additionally I would not recommend sponge filter in 150 gal tank, live rock or other biomedia should be your first line of biological filtration.
But what now? Need to aerate water either with protein skimmer or airstone. Temporary UV filter would be of great benefit. Water changes are of least importance as they usually cannot keep up with multiplication rate of heterotrophic bacteria. Monitor ammonia level though and if necessary, you need water changes to eliminate ammonia.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

What is your nitrates actually reading? Do you have access to a UV sterilizer?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I addition to likely overfeeding, maybe something died?

 

[Dom]

I'd like to point out that a 10% water change in a 150 gallon tank is only 15 gallons. Such a small water change isn't likely to impact the nutrient levels in the tank much at all.

I also agree with the possibility of a bacterial bloom. I've had this experience with some of my tanks and it always involved a tank with a hang on back filter because the sponge becomes infected with bacteria.

Daily cleaning of the sponge along with UV lighting solved the problem.

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