Nitrate spike

[tencwhiskey]

My nitrates were hovering around 10, until recently when I added some live stock. I have a 25 gallon tank, no sump. Approx 25 pounds of live rock and nano skimmer. I had two clowns all was good, my wife wanted a goby. So she bought two of them, a watchman and a sand sifting. Now my nitrates are starting to climb. I'm doing 10% water changes a week. I have been using distilled water but my 4 stage from BRS is supposed to arrive on Monday. So I tested nitrates on sunday they were about 20 today I checked were at 40. I am using the forbidden API for now and I know it's not accurate but it does at least show a trend. Any ideas would help? Bigger clean up crew? More live rock? Get rid of fish? I don't have room for a sump unless I buy a new stand.

 

[Mike in CT]

It just might take a while before your tank settles down from adding more bioload. How long has it been running? I would say because you don't have a sump to add macro algae to export your nutrients , that more water changes (like 25% instead of 10 %) would be your best bet , and not that hard to do on a 25 gallon setup.

 

[mike007]

Seems that you added alot at one time now your tank will have to acclimate to this increase. Keep doing the water changes and don't overfeed.

 

[tencwhiskey]

Thanks that's what I will do for now,
I thought it might be too much to at one time.

 

[beaslbob]

actually a nitrate spike when adding new fish is a good sign.

What very well could be happening is the plant life like algae or macros are consuming the ammonia increase and not as much nitrates.

Much better to have a nitrate spike then an ammonia spike.


my .02

 

[tencwhiskey]

Very good point. I like your thinking

 

[tencwhiskey]

Well now I'm getting ammonia. Tested it twice and got 0.25. I want to build a sump, but I don't have room under my stand so I need to buy a new one. Any short term ideas besides water changes?

 

[Twhaddon]

Try adding some Seachem Prime - you can get at local pets mart or petco.

 

[Jlobes]

whats your sandbed like?? Could be that the sand sifting goby is doing his thing, disturbing the sandbed and stirring up detritus/nutrients that your system cant quite handle. water changes are key.

dilution is the solution to pollution.

 

[TJ's Reef]

whats your sandbed like?? Could be that the sand sifting goby is doing his thing, disturbing the sandbed and stirring up detritus/nutrients that your system cant quite handle. water changes are key.

dilution is the solution to pollution.

My thoughts as well here, so just keep up with the WC's and things should settle out shortly.

Cheers, Todd