Nitrates went up after WC???

[LagunaGlide]

I have been holding a battle with nitrates. Tank has been up and running for about a month now. I have an eshopps s300 Skimmer that puts in a bit of work, my chaeto has finally started to grow, and my tank has entered the ugly phase. I have been trying to get ready for coral, but nitrates are kicking my butt. I had them down a bit, and decided to do about a 20% water change. Which is the largest I have done yet having around 300Gal system. I decided to check the Nitrates after the WC and they are now around 90ppm, but last week they were at around 40ppm on API kit. I am pretty confused how I got higher nitrates with fresh new water.

I tried to test with my Redsea pro kit, but it's WAY off the charts there. I will try and do the diluted test method on it tomorrow.

What am I doing wrong here? Any good reason why Nitrates went UP after WC? I have another batch mixing now. I figure I will just keep at it until it comes down or I nuke the entire system.

 

[mcarroll]

This is a brand new tank that's just been up for a month? Are you still testing for ammonia? (Can you pls?)

Mostly to validate your test kit, what do you get when you test your tap water for nitrates?

 

[NY_Caveman]

If you are using tap I would definitely test the tap water for Nitrate and Phosphate. My parents in Buffalo for example have high Nitrate from their tap. I myself have 2 ppm PO4 in mine (and I use RO/DI for that reason).

 

[IslandLifeReef]

You need to give more information to get a good answer. What are all of your water parameters? What kind of water are you using to mix your salt in? Have you tested that water? If your tank isn't fully cycled and you are still showing nitrite, you will get a false high reading on your nitrates.

If all of your parameters check out, you could try carbon dosing to bring down your nitrates. NoPoX works well and will bring them down in a couple of weeks.

 

[LagunaGlide]

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Phos - .08
PH - 8.2
Nitrate - 32 PPM (About, see below)
Temp - 77-78
Salinity - 1.025

Let's clarify some things then. The tank has been cycled and holding fish since late February. Have been using Ro/Di since day 1.

I use a 5 stage BRS Ro/Di system and use Reef Crystals. I feed 2 cubes of frozen mysis a day. I have 3 full grown tangs, 2 full grown B&W clowns, 1 small normal, 1 Royal Gramma, and clean up crew. They decimate the amount of food I give, but I could/should cut back a bit.

I would say part of my issue is the API kit. The diluted Nitrate test shows a bit lower readings. I think I read this rightish, but it was darker than the reading I set on, and a lighter than the next higher, so I would say a bit higher than stated.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Another besides testing error. You stirred up some detritus during the wc. This is more common in older tanks that dont touch their sand beds for awhile then one day stir it.
But after 2 months of feeding it is possible to do the same if the organics are there.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

I agree with @Gareth elliott. I would try some sort of carbon dosing to bring down the nitrates. Even your phosphates could be reduced a little bit. Everything else looks great. If you decide on using NOPOX, I would start with half of what they recommend, and test 2-3 times a week and make adjustments to the amount dosed until your nitrates drop below 10ppm. Then I would cut the dosing amount you settled on in half every week after that until your nitrates stabilize at a level you are happy with. Make sure you run a skimmer if you carbon dose and skim on the wet side.

 

[mcarroll]

Tank has been up and running for about a month now.

The tank has been cycled and holding fish since late February.

I have 3 full grown tangs, 2 full grown B&W clowns, 1 small normal, 1 Royal Gramma, and clean up crew.

I feed 2 cubes of frozen mysis a day.

Ok....so it's a huge bio-load in a very green/new tank. That takes away half of the mystery.....the numbers below are fine and make sense. I'd stop worrying and take no action.

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Phos - .08
PH - 8.2
Nitrate - 32 PPM (About, see below)
Temp - 77-78
Salinity - 1.025

I would say part of my issue is the API kit.

There goes the other half of the mystery. Nothing to see here.

Keep doing what you're doing. Boost the CUC as needed – don't be shy about it.

Assuming this is the tank in your sig that's converting into a reef, the corals that go in will appreciate nutrients being available and will even use them up over time....from the water and by eating up particles and organics before they even break down.

This makes Gareth's timing impecable...

Another besides testing error. You stirred up some detritus during the wc. This is more common in older tanks that dont touch their sand beds for awhile then one day stir it.
But after 2 months of feeding it is possible to do the same if the organics are there.

If that was the case it would be a testimony to horrible flow in the tank – lots of food or fish poop gathering and rotting.

@LagunaGlide we need stong (velocity) flow to keep food and waste particles suspended – something wide flow pumps might not be the best at – how are things with flow in the tank??

 

[LagunaGlide]

Ok....so it's a huge bio-load in a very green/new tank. That takes away half of the mystery.....the numbers below are fine and make sense. I'd stop worrying and take no action.





There goes the other half of the mystery. Nothing to see here.

Keep doing what you're doing. Boost the CUC as needed – don't be shy about it.

Assuming this is the tank in your sig that's converting into a reef, the corals that go in will appreciate nutrients being available and will even use them up over time....from the water and by eating up particles and organics before they even break down.

This makes Gareth's timing impecable...



If that was the case it would be a testimony to horrible flow in the tank – lots of food or fish poop gathering and rotting.

@LagunaGlide we need stong (velocity) flow to keep food and waste particles suspended – something wide flow pumps might not be the best at – how are things with flow in the tank??

I think my flow is decent. When I feed the food seems to stay in the water column for a good bit of time. If I stirred up detritus (which I am sure I did) it was in the sump which has pretty low flow to allow for a nice sanctuary for pods to breed. I don't think I have any dead spots.