Nitrates V-High

[paulkelly555]

Hello,

I have a Red Sea Reefer 750XXL. And I have just moved the tank as building into the wall.

Now, during the move. I removed all the rock, and fish. And put in temporary Koi pond. Then removed all the sand and replaced with new Caribea live Fiji Pink

I then put all the rock back in, but alo added more dry rock TMC eco rock.

I also kept the majority of the same water. And done some aquasquaping.

Now, this is around 5 weeks ago. And I have been testing my water and my nitrates were high using the Red Sea test kits. So I took a sample of my water to the LFS - and I they have given me the readings as in below image. I have being dosing nitrate remover, and also done around 400 Litres over the last week or 2. But the nitrates are still very high. I suspect a mini cycle. or some dead rock.

However, the interesting thing is - all the fish are still happy and I have an anemone and they all seem fine. So maybe became immune.

Any ideas?

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Hello,

I have a Red Sea Reefer 750XXL. And I have just moved the tank as building into the wall.

Now, during the move. I removed all the rock, and fish. And put in temporary Koi pond. Then removed all the sand and replaced with new Caribea live Fiji Pink

I then put all the rock back in, but alo added more dry rock TMC eco rock.

I also kept the majority of the same water. And done some aquasquaping.

Now, this is around 5 weeks ago. And I have been testing my water and my nitrates were high using the Red Sea test kits. So I took a sample of my water to the LFS - and I they have given me the readings as in below image. I have being dosing nitrate remover, and also done around 400 Litres over the last week or 2. But the nitrates are still very high. I suspect a mini cycle. or some dead rock.

However, the interesting thing is - all the fish are still happy and I have an anemone and they all seem fine. So maybe became immune.

Any ideas?

do water change!

you are writing about all the many things done to disrupt your ammonia > nitrite > nitrate cycle... let it settle, but get that nitrate down. Most gentle way is typically water change

 

[paulkelly555]

do water change!

you are writing about all the many things done to disrupt your ammonia > nitrite > nitrate cycle... let it settle, but get that nitrate down. Most gentle way is typically water change

That was what I mentioned in the message - I have also done around 400 litres water change, which is around 50%. And its still not declining.

 

[Fish Think Pink]

That was what I mentioned in the message - I have also done around 400 litres water change, which is around 50%. And its still not declining.

Curious - what are you dosing as 'nitrate remover' (first post)?

Let me make sure I have this right:
- nitrates at almost 200
- 50% water change
- nitrates still at almost 200

If that is right, test the saltwater being mixed to replace tank water, because above water change should have dropped you to 100 nitrates (still very high) when your nitrates going in are at 0 in clean, new saltwater. 200 reduced by half is 100.

 

[Fish Think Pink]

if there was delay/lag between testing, water change, then testing again, suspect feeding during delay... but waiting to hear back on your changed water used for water change.

 

[paulkelly555]

Hi I thought I had replied via my phone.

I have been using NH Nitrate remover - HR Nitrate Remover from Reef Essential. 42ml daily

On the water changes. I have done 4 x 100 litre over the week. But still the result is showing the same. The salt mix that I am using which is new - is Red Sea Salt.

I am going to do another massive water change of around 400 litres.

My question though - if nitrates so high why are the fish not dying?

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Hi I thought I had replied via my phone.

I have been using NH Nitrate remover - HR Nitrate Remover from Reef Essential. 42ml daily

On the water changes. I have done 4 x 100 litre over the week. But still the result is showing the same. The salt mix that I am using which is new - is Red Sea Salt.

I am going to do another massive water change of around 400 litres.

My question though - if nitrates so high why are the fish not dying?

I don't know why your fish are still alive, esp since you've gotten second opinion on that test result.

Was not asking about brand of salt... instead was wondering about water... like, maybe something is wrong with your source water that is resulting in high nitrates. Test your water when freshly mixed (or BEFORE mixed) and determine nitrate level(s).

 

[legionofdoon]

It's probably your nitrites interfering with the nitrate test. Id be most concerned about the ammonia.

 

[Fish Think Pink]

It's probably your nitrites interfering with the nitrate test. Id be most concerned about the ammonia.

Above it shows low ammonia, which is crazy... SOMEWHERE ammonia is coming into picture and converting to nitrate... why I was thinking if not IN tank than before tank (source water)

Open to ideas... food, but thought he indicated tests were quickly done after change...

OOOHHH... what if something large is rotting in there, but tank with enough bio conversion capacity to convert the ammonia as it comes off into nitrite then nitrates ... ? but, if test is done right after water change, think that rules this out...

 

[DE FISH]

Is there something dead/decaying in your tank ?

 

[vtshadow]

Nothing to add besides what's been said, but where did you get your tester from?

 

[paulkelly555]

So I use the RoDI Glamorca - and that is showing that my TDS is 0 which is what I am using to mix the water. I am going to send off for an ICP test just to another opinion on the water. However, the water looks good. My suspicion is there is some sort of dead rock that when I removed and put back in I unsettled or kicked of a mini cycle. How can you tell that the rock is rotten or dead that it creates something like this. In terms of the testers. I use Red Sea test kits but I also took to my LFS and they used the aqua disc. I have had 3 done over the last few weeks and similar results.

In terms of something dead / I haven't lost any fish recently. So I am not sure but it was my suspicion as well. But my question would then be - I have quite a significant clean up crew. Would this then not start to sort it self out within a few weeks.

I am not sure

 

[paulkelly555]

I have also just done a test on new batch of water that I have just mixed and it has came back with 0 nitrates. So has to be something in the tank :-(

 

[Dbichler]

What was your process with live rock other than in koi pond in saltwater dried out etc. you look like you are starting completely over with those test numbers. 1.7 ammonia is very high for just a swap. As far as nitrates do as large of a water change as you can and another as soon as possible then test and if needed another large waterchange.

 

[paulkelly555]

When I removed the rock - I literally just filled the Koi pond. Then put the rock in. Then removed all my old sand from the tank. Put new live sand in, and then put the rock back in the tank. And filled up with the old water. And the fish

Oh, but also added further TMC Eco rock to the tank as well as my existing Live rock. It does feel like I have kicked off a new cycle. This was around 5 weeks ago. And as I said the fish/anemone etc are all ok. And even a leather coral.

I did think of adding some beneficial bacteria to speed up a mini cycle - is that a good idea? Or do you think just wait this out or just do multiple large water changes? My plan is to do another 400-liter water change this weekend which is 50% roughly of the volume. Then go get another aqua disc test from the LFS. Or do you think I should see signs of a dead rock causing this?

thanks

 

[92Miata]

You can't test nitrates with nitrites present - nitrite interferes with nitrate tests. Your numbers are junk.

I'd really question the testing if you're seeing 2ppm ammonia and stuff looks fine. The 96 hour LD50 (half the animals die) for ammonia in marine fish ranges from about .1ppm to about 3 ppm depending on species. If you're not seeing stress - your ammonia isn't that high.

Try some better tests. Everything on that aquaspin result is way out of whack.

 

[Dbichler]

^+1 only mistake you made was using the old tank water. You shouldn’t have had this cycle happen though I think your just over feeding and false reading with nitrites but a water change won’t hurt. Since you have an anemone living you don’t have ammonia.

 

[paulkelly555]

What kit do you suggest? A nitrite test? I do have Hannah kits as well that I’ll use. When you say the aqua tests are junk. You mean they are not reliable or the readings are junk?

 

[Fish Think Pink]

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[Fish Think Pink]

I have also just done a test on new batch of water that I have just mixed and it has came back with 0 nitrates. So has to be something in the tank :-(

Appreciate you ruled out source water !!