Nitrate spike

[Reefgirl0412]

This is a new 110 gallon tank. I did the initial cycle. Got everything down to zero (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite). I added CUC consisting of 6 blue legged hermits, 2 turbo snail, 2 astrea snails, 2 cerith snails. A noticed a spike in nitrites and did about a 40 percent water change a week ago, all the issues went away and everything was reading zero again. Today, I tested my water ammonia is at 0 , Nitrites are at 0, but my nitrates spiked up to about 60 ppm. I am new to this. I am assuming that this happened because of all the snail poop I'm there. Please help!

 

[MERKEY]

Weekly water changes is key to a lot of peoples successful tanks.

Especially at the beginning when our tanks are still finding their character and bacteria is still getting comfy.

Have any snails died or have you noticed anything off in the tank?

 

[Reefgirl0412]

There might be 2 snails that are dead. I think im going to pull them out and see. But i might do a water change again tomorrow or Friday. I just did a 40 percent a week ago. The turbo snails are **** machines so maybe that could be the issue? Also, tank is going through the ugly stage as well. When everything goes right, something goes wrong.

 

[MERKEY]

Ah yes the ugly stage haha keep up on weekly water changes and if you are getting hair algea remove as much as you can so it doesn't build up.

 

[Reefgirl0412]

Ok. Should I use the gravel vac to remove the stuff from the sand? I've never used it before so I don't want to mess up.

 

[Reefgirl0412]

Pretty sure my nerite snails died they haven't moved at all in like 9 days. And one shell was empty the other one didn't look good. So I just tossed them.

 

[MERKEY]

Ok. Should I use the gravel vac to remove the stuff from the sand? I've never used it before so I don't want to mess up.

If you haven't used one before, this is a great time to start

It may take a couple times to get used to it but keeping your sand clean is important.

A lot of nitrates can get bound up in the sand.

 

[Reefgirl0412]

Ok yeah is it better to do it while performing a water change?

 

[MERKEY]

Ok yeah is it better to do it while performing a water change?

Oh yes, this is something to do when doing a water change.

It's actually pretty fun lol

 

[Reefgirl0412]

Thank you so much

 

[Spare time]

You might benefit from dosing some bacteria to help with these issues. Check out pnms probio, waste away, microbacter-clean, fritz 409, etc.

 

[Reefgirl0412]

Can I use the microbacter clean with snails and crabs in the tank?

 

[CRD23]

Can I use the microbacter clean with snails and crabs in the tank?

Yes. I do use with snails and hermits in my tank.

 

[cbedfellow]

This is a new 110 gallon tank. I did the initial cycle. Got everything down to zero (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite). I added CUC consisting of 6 blue legged hermits, 2 turbo snail, 2 astrea snails, 2 cerith snails. A noticed a spike in nitrites and did about a 40 percent water change a week ago, all the issues went away and everything was reading zero again. Today, I tested my water ammonia is at 0 , Nitrites are at 0, but my nitrates spiked up to about 60 ppm. I am new to this. I am assuming that this happened because of all the snail poop I'm there. Please help!

How did you get nitrates down to zero?

You understand the cycle right? ammonia -> nitrite -> nitrate, so nitrate does not really spike it is the end product. Water changes remove or dilute the nitrate unless you have other methods which are doubtful in a new tank.

 

[Reefgirl0412]

How did you get nitrates down to zero?

You understand the cycle right? ammonia -> nitrite -> nitrate, so nitrate does not really spike it is the end product. Water changes remove or dilute the nitrate unless you have other methods which are doubtful in a new tank.

Yeah I understand the cycle. I've been done with my cycle and a week ago did a 40 percent water change. I barely had any nitrates but since I added the cleanup crew they have spike up.

 

[Garf]

Yeah I understand the cycle. I've been done with my cycle and a week ago did a 40 percent water change. I barely had any nitrates but since I added the cleanup crew they have spike up.

Am I right in assuming your using API test kits?

 

[Reefgirl0412]

Am I right in assuming your using API test kits?

Correct.

 

[Garf]

Correct.

I have no problem with API generally, except the nitrate one. Don’t know why but they appear to vary wildly. I use Salifert for nitrate.

 

[Reefgirl0412]

I have no problem with API generally, except the nitrate one. Don’t know why but they appear to vary wildly. I use Salifert for nitrate.

Ok good to know. Yeah enjoying the hobby,but than stuff like this happens and it makes me want to quit. I am going to do a 10 percent water change and gravel vac the sand bed tonight. And if the problem doesn't go away I am going to add some macrobacter clean maybe.