Nitrate spike

[nanoreef93]

Hope all is well. I have a 5 month old 14 gallon reef tank that ran barebottom. My nitrates would always test out bellow 10 until I added sand. I added about 1/2 inch of fiji pink. This was sand I had prior from another tank. I rinsed it with RO water and added. My nitrates are now testing above 30. What can I do? I do have Micro Bacter 7 by brightwell aquatics. Is this normal after adding sand?

 

[nanoreef93]

This was sand tht was dried out btw

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don't know if I say it was expected, but if the sand had organic matter attached to it that is now decomposing, it is possibly the cause.