I have a 120 gallon tank that is well established. It has fish, some noxious pink soft coral and a cleaner crew. I think we have had it up for about 8 years. We moved it across the living room the week of Christmas and the nitrates have been off the chart since. We have done numerous water changes, used niteout, and even tried Chem clean. Strange thing is we have not lost one fish or invertebrate. We Have Checked Them With several different test kits just to make sure it wasn't the test kits. Ammonia and nitrites are zero. Any ideas on where to go from here to get them back to normal?
nitrate issue after moving tank
- Thread starter bqualls
- Start date
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Bad Company
Well-Known Member
Did a lot of algae die during the move?
Is it possible that you ae measuring differently now?
Is it possible that you ae measuring differently now?
rworegon
Active Member
The move probably did disturb the sand bed, at least a little. Large water changes will be your friend. Do you run a sump and refugium? If you have a fuge try some chaeto of other macro in there to try some nitrate uptake.
rworegon
Active Member
40 to 50% would not be out of line I wouldn't think. A 50% water change would give you a50% reduction in nitrates. I think any more than that might be too much of a shock the your livestock.
jasonp87
Well-Known Member
If you emptied the tank and refilled it or moved/removed rock and replaced you disturbed the sand bed. not to mention the sloshing water that was left in the tank while it was moving. It happens, as mentioned, just keep up with the large water changes until it goes down.
Try a different test kit maybe?
beaslbob
2500 Club Member
I say keep on doing what you're doing.
could be the algae is consuming ammonia instead of nitrates and therefore preventing a dangerous cycle.
Hopefully the nitrates will drop down in a few weeks as aerobic bacteria consume the ammonia instead of the algae.
You could also try a little less feedind to help that process along.
But with everything healthy I would do nothing.
my .02
could be the algae is consuming ammonia instead of nitrates and therefore preventing a dangerous cycle.
Hopefully the nitrates will drop down in a few weeks as aerobic bacteria consume the ammonia instead of the algae.
You could also try a little less feedind to help that process along.
But with everything healthy I would do nothing.
my .02
ptd6996
New Member
The only bacteria that will help with nitrates are anaerobic bacteria. That's bacteria that live in a deep sand bed / plenum or deep in live rock where there is no oxygen. If you do large water changes that allow oxygen to get to these places it will kill these bacteria. Smaller water changes more often can be more beneficial. Also a refugium with a good macro algae and grow light will do wonders.
You also want to make sure the water you are using doesn't have any ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates in it before you use it for top off water or for a water change.
You also want to make sure the water you are using doesn't have any ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates in it before you use it for top off water or for a water change.
We have been doing small water changes for 2 months and we have tested the water going in as well. Again there has not been a spike in ammonia or nitrites like a normal cycle. I think we are going to send a sample off to a testing lab because it really doesn't add up. 2 months of nitrates at 160 would kill your livestock and ours are perfectly healthy. .There has to be something else going on
Fishyj
Well-Known Member
I had the same problem with a 29 that I had crack on me. If you are getting an increase in algae buildup its because of the high nitrates. The algae is keeping the nitrates from going off the chart. I got rid of my algae and in the process lost $600 in corals. Keep doing very large water changes and don't try getting rid of the algae at this point. Once you bring down nitrates it will take care of algae too.
SD_reefer
Community Member
Large water changes are definitely the way to go like everybody has been saying. Also try shortening the length between each water change. From every other week to every week. I have been having an issue with my tank since the get go. But last Sunday I did about a 50% water change in my tank, granted it's only 60 gallons, and it actually dropped my nitrates from 20 to 10. Come Sunday I will be doing another big water change and hopefully I will be at the level I need. Obviously you've been doing this for a while but don't get discouraged keep at it and I'm sure you will figure it out.
