Not totally new, but getting back and have a problem.

[ThePlummer]

I've let my aquarium and everything go fallow for better than 2 years. Now, starting it back up. I washed all the sand, and added more, to try to get enough substrate to keep a mandarin. Did not acid wash, just rinsed off the 150 lbs dry rock. 55 Gal with HOB wet/dry, 5 gal RDSB, and 35 gal sump.

after 6 weeks, still have a bit of ammonia (.25), nitrites always been zero (maybe just outdated testing fluid), but have 10 nitrates, and 5.0 phosphates. temp 77.5 F. No livestock. Just ghost feeding a tiny bit twice weekly.

What I don't get is there is absolutely zero algea in the tank.

Should I just let it ride for a couple of weeks to see if the anoxic bacteria hasn't taken off yet and cycled and just get a bag of Phosban to pull the phosphates?

What would you guys recommend?

 

[lapin]

Sounds like your rock is leechin phosphates. SInce you did not say if high phosphate was a problem in the last set up thats my guess. It might be easier to treat the rock outside the tank with something like LC. Lanthanum chloride

 

[ThePlummer]

Rock doesn't leach phosphates. That is a myth. Maybe a lot of leftover phosphates caught in the pores. I did have a phosphate problem last time, but mitigated with phosban. Doesn't mean that the rock wasn't holding it too. From what I can surmise at this point.

Last time I tried to grow chaeto, but couldn't get it to grow. Could have been the cheap fluorescent grow light I tried. BRS has about convinced me of that, with the results they've gotten with the really good lights... I wonder though, if my RDSB was keeping the nitrates at zero all the time, as to why the chaeto wouldn't grow.

I'm not arguing with you, just thinking out loud to try to figure this out with more than just my mind.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Just a couple key points, from my personal experiences. To your findings of ammonia, are you by chance using a API test kit for it? API ammonia test kits are known to read low values, even when little or no ammonia is present.

Rock and sand can absorb P04 from the water column till it equalizes with that amount. When the water around the rock and sand has lower P04, it can Leach back into the water column till it equalizes. This has been my experience and others as well. Your mileage may vary. Respectfully.

 

[ThePlummer]

Just a couple key points, from my personal experiences. To your findings of ammonia, are you by chance using a API test kit for it? API ammonia test kits are known to read low values, even when little or no ammonia is present.

Rock and sand can absorb P04 in the water column till it equalizes with that amount. When the water around the rock and sand has lower P04, it can Leach back into the water column till it equalizes. This has been my experience and others as well. Your mileage may vary. Respectfully.

Yup, API is all the tests that I have. And they are probably 7 years old. Wasn't sure if they go bad or not. I think the nitrite one must be bad, cause I've gotten zero readings. But I was reading in the newbie tank cycling thread that sometimes nitrites don't show up.

I'm thinking a large amount of phosban to try to soak the phosphate up, and a good grow light to start chaeto, and a bit more time to let the RDSB start to function.

Am I on the right track.

P.S. I forgot to mention... My calcium levels are crazy high too. Well over 600 and I'm not dosing. I use well water, so no RO/DI necessary. I think corroline will love it, as it did the last time.... Once it was growing, I did have to dose occasionally.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Test kit that old, yes time to replace them. They should have a expiration date stamped on the front of the bottles. Once out of date, pitch them for new.

Well water can have "nasties" in it. Agricultural and surface run off can get in aquifers that wells draw from. In addition, well water is usually laden with rich calcium deposits. Could explain high P04 and calcium.

 

[ThePlummer]

Test kit that old, yes time to replace them. They should have a expiration date stamped on the front of the bottles. Once out of date, pitch them for new.

Well water can have "nasties" in it. Agricultural and surface run off can get in aquifers that wells draw from. In addition, well water is usually laden with rich calcium deposits. Could explain high P04 and calcium.

I got lazy and neglected on the well water. It is a community well system, and is controlled by the state and daily testing. No chlorine.

Regarding the expiration dates.... Looked all over, and couldn't find them... I'll check again. Thanks.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I got lazy and neglected on the well water. It is a community well system, and is controlled by the state and daily testing. No chlorine.

Regarding the expiration dates.... Looked all over, and couldn't find them... I'll check again. Thanks.

They must be very old.

I'd have your water tested just to be sure about what's in it. Better safe than sorry.

 

[ThePlummer]

Test kit that old, yes time to replace them. They should have a expiration date stamped on the front of the bottles. Once out of date, pitch them for new.

Well water can have "nasties" in it. Agricultural and surface run off can get in aquifers that wells draw from. In addition, well water is usually laden with rich calcium deposits. Could explain high P04 and calcium.

I got lazy and neglected on the well water. It is a community well system, and is controlled by the state and daily testing. No chlorine.

Regarding the expiration dates.... Looked all over, and couldn't find them... I'll check again. Thanks.


Yup, all expired at least two years ago. Funny thing, there's no expiration date on the one test (Nitrite) that I'm having zero reading on..

That may be why nitrate and phosphate appear high too...

I'm pretty much at square one on this, till I get new test fluids.

 

[lapin]

Rock doesn't leach phosphates. That is a myth. Maybe a lot of leftover phosphates caught in the pores. I did have a phosphate problem last time, but mitigated with phosban. Doesn't mean that the rock wasn't holding it too. From what I can surmise at this point.

So holding and release is different than leech?

 

[ThePlummer]

So holding and release is different than leech?

To my mind yes... Leaching to me would mean that the rock is actually soaking up the phosphate... Holding (probably a poor choice of words here on my part) I meant that detritus may be in the pores of the rock. My dry rock is 30+ years old and has lots of little honeycomb in it... Now that I think about it, a good wash is probably appropriate. That's what I get for being lazy.