Parameter Assistance

[Denver45]

Hi All,

Apologize as this may be a bit long, but could really use some help. My 45 gal has been up and running for a few months and a couple weeks ago started adding some things. Everything was going great until an ATO malfunction caused a salinity crash. Very shortly after Dinos started showing up on the sand. About the same time the Dinos showed up I started having trace amounts .25 of ammonia showing up regularly. I did a 4 day black out and am actively working on the Dinos, however the .25 ammonia remains and I can’t get my nitrates above zero. I’ve got two fish that aren’t showing any ammonia issues and the couple corals I have look fine. I’m heavy feeding and have removed filter socks, plus added some bottled bacteria to hopefully help out compete the Dino’s, but I know I need to get my nitrates up a bit. I’m going to verify a water sample with my LFS this weekend, but wondering if anyone has any ideas? Appreciate any help you all have to offer!

I know newer tanks have woes, but this is a weird one for me. Thanks all!

Parameters
Salinity-1.025
pH-8.0
Ammonia-.25
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-0
PO4-Ran out of reagent will test tomorrow

 

[Subsea]

Get your water tested. I see little point in adding bottled nitrification bacteria after you have already cycled nitrification bacteria.

What is a salinity crash, details matter? What observations on tank inhabitants.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hi All,

Apologize as this may be a bit long, but could really use some help. My 45 gal has been up and running for a few months and a couple weeks ago started adding some things. Everything was going great until an ATO malfunction caused a salinity crash. Very shortly after Dinos started showing up on the sand. About the same time the Dinos showed up I started having trace amounts .25 of ammonia showing up regularly. I did a 4 day black out and am actively working on the Dinos, however the .25 ammonia remains and I can’t get my nitrates above zero. I’ve got two fish that aren’t showing any ammonia issues and the couple corals I have look fine. I’m heavy feeding and have removed filter socks, plus added some bottled bacteria to hopefully help out compete the Dino’s, but I know I need to get my nitrates up a bit. I’m going to verify a water sample with my LFS this weekend, but wondering if anyone has any ideas? Appreciate any help you all have to offer!

I know newer tanks have woes, but this is a weird one for me. Thanks all!

Parameters
Salinity-1.025
pH-8.0
Ammonia-.25
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-0
PO4-Ran out of reagent will test tomorrow

Most likely your ammonia test is a red herring. What test are you using?

 

[Denver45]

Get your water tested. I see little point in adding bottled nitrification bacteria after you have already cycled nitrification bacteria.

What is a salinity crash, details matter? What observations on tank inhabitants.

Sorry all, I was traveling for work. I had some issues with an ATO that malfunctioned and added a bunch of RO top off water when it shouldn’t have. Dropped my salinity from 1.026 to 1.022 and ticked off my corals, but only lost a candy cane and a small hammer. I took a sample in this past weekend and had everything tested Ammonia was still at .1, nitrate was at 2, and phosphate was at .3 (high I know). I’m still showing ammonia today at about the same level and nitrate isn’t showing anything. I’m pretty confused as to where the ammonia is coming from and why there is no nitrate. I’ve got a cardinal and a fire fish that are doing fine, as well as a handful of snails, hermit crabs, and a cleaner shrimp. All seem healthy. I did lose a couple snails early in my blackout that I put down to the Dinos I’ve been battling. Yesterday I lost a tiny emerald crab, but unsure as to why. I’m a bit at a loss.

 

[Denver45]

Most likely your ammonia test is a red herring. What test are you using?

Sorry I was traveling for work. I was using API that I had at the house, but got similar readings in my LFS this weekend.

 

[Subsea]

Sorry all, I was traveling for work. I had some issues with an ATO that malfunctioned and added a bunch of RO top off water when it shouldn’t have. Dropped my salinity from 1.026 to 1.022 and ticked off my corals, but only lost a candy cane and a small hammer. I took a sample in this past weekend and had everything tested Ammonia was still at .1, nitrate was at 2, and phosphate was at .3 (high I know). I’m still showing ammonia today at about the same level and nitrate isn’t showing anything. I’m pretty confused as to where the ammonia is coming from and why there is no nitrate. I’ve got a cardinal and a fire fish that are doing fine, as well as a handful of snails, hermit crabs, and a cleaner shrimp. All seem healthy. I did lose a couple snails early in my blackout that I put down to the Dinos I’ve been battling. Yesterday I lost a tiny emerald crab, but unsure as to why. I’m a bit at a loss.

When things are right, Nitrification bacteria double in population every 30 minutes, I perused try your thread titles and you have had bactetia blooms in other systems. While I have no details, do you have a tank tread for tank in question? Of special interest is your biofiltration and how did you cycle the tank.

 

[Denver45]

When things are right, Nitrification bacteria double in population every 30 minutes, I perused try your thread titles and you have had bactetia blooms in other systems. While I have no details, do you have a tank tread for tank in question? Of special interest is your biofiltration and how did you cycle the tank.

Tank is 45gal JBJ rimless with 40lbs live sand and about 15-20lbs live rock. I also have two one pound bags of ceramic bio balls in two of the filter chambers. Cycled the tank with Fritz turbo start and was reading normally for about a month and a half post cycle 0 ammonia and between 5-10ppm nitrate wegekle between water changes.

As a note I did add another two bottles of Fritz turbo start again on Saturday but I’m still testing ammonia and no nitrate.

 

[Subsea]

Did I understand correctly that tank is less than 3 months old?

When you say live sand and live rock, was it live with more than bacteria & coralibe algae?

What was ammonia on Saturday and what is ammonia today?

 

[Denver45]

Did I understand correctly that tank is less than 3 months old?

When you say live sand and live rock, was it live with more than bacteria & coralibe algae?

What was ammonia on Saturday and what is ammonia today?

Sorry for just getting back to you, I’m a physician and have been a bit crazy lately. Saturday the ammonia was .1, and the same on the 21st. 23-26 the ammonia was back at 0, however today it’s back around that .1 mark. The tank is right about 3 months old. There is very little livestock in the tank, a few snails, a cleaner shrimp, one med banggai cardinal, and a small fire fish. Fish aren’t showing any issues.

Sand and rock were just bacteria and algae.

Apologies again about the delay.

 

[Subsea]

Sorry for just getting back to you, I’m a physician and have been a bit crazy lately. Saturday the ammonia was .1, and the same on the 21st. 23-26 the ammonia was back at 0, however today it’s back around that .1 mark. The tank is right about 3 months old. There is very little livestock in the tank, a few snails, a cleaner shrimp, one med banggai cardinal, and a small fire fish. Fish aren’t showing any issues.

Sand and rock were just bacteria and algae.

Apologies again about the delay.

I apologize also as I have no idea to help.

I would find another LFS to validate the test or send off for ICP test.

Consider getting some real live rock:

Gulf Live Rock.com

gulfliverock.com

PS: As a Laissez faire reefkeeper, I trust the live stock as the best bioindicator of system.

PSS: Consider posting in reef chemistry forum. I suspect something that is in the water is interfering with titration chemicals.

 

[Denver45]

I apologize also as I have no idea to help.

I would find another LFS to validate the test or send off for ICP test.

Consider getting some real live rock:

Gulf Live Rock.com

gulfliverock.com

PS: As a Laissez faire reefkeeper, I trust the live stock as the best bioindicator of system.

PSS: Consider posting in reef chemistry forum. I suspect something that is in the water is interfering with titration chemicals.

Appreciate all the thoughts and help. I know things go weird sometimes, so really appreciate the weighing in.

 

[Keko21]

have you turned your skimmer off to help get the nitrates back up?

 

[homer1475]

Are you still using the API kit for ammonia?

Sometimes they always look like a hint of green, instead of that nice bright yellow you get in fresh water.

If your livestock looks fine, and is acting fine, I would be very suspect of the ammonia reading.

 

[Denver45]

have you turned your skimmer off to help get the nitrates back up?

I have and they are still low.

 

[Denver45]

Are you still using the API kit for ammonia?

Sometimes they always look like a hint of green, instead of that nice bright yellow you get in fresh water.

If your livestock looks fine, and is acting fine, I would be very suspect of the ammonia reading.

I have been just to see what it looks like. It’s definitely green but to your point my livestock has no signs of ammonia poisoning, so I’m going to leave it for the time being. Thanks for the advice!

 

[homer1475]

New tanks often need to have nitrate, and sometimes phosphates dosed to them. It's not uncommon these days.

 

[Denver45]

New tanks often need to have nitrate, and sometimes phosphates dosed to them. It's not uncommon these days.

Phosphates were .03 yesterday, but nitrates were still at 0. I’ll look at dosing a bit starting this weekend. Thanks!

 

[Subsea]

“Potassium nitrate is an inorganic salt with a chemical formula of KNO3. It is a natural source of nitrate and has been used as a constituent for several different purposes, including food preservatives, fertilizers, tree stump removal, rocket propellants, and fireworks.”

Available at Home Depot

 

[gbroadbridge]

“Potassium nitrate is an inorganic salt with a chemical formula of KNO3. It is a natural source of nitrate and has been used as a constituent for several different purposes, including food preservatives, fertilizers, tree stump removal, rocket propellants, and fireworks.”

Available at Home Depot

I wouldn't be dosing Potassium Nitrate unless you have a known deficiency of Potassium in the tank.

A much better balanced source of Nitrate is either Calcium Nitrate or Sodium Nitrate both of which can be purchased online.

 

[Subsea]

I wouldn't be dosing Potassium Nitrate unless you have a known deficiency of Potassium in the tank.

A much better balanced source of Nitrate is either Calcium Nitrate or Sodium Nitrate both of which can be purchased online.

Actually, when I need nitrogen, I dose ammonia, both corals & plants prefer NH4 to NO4