I've brought a tank with fish 2nd hand and the nitrates are heigh... It's been 2 weeks since it was moved and I've done 3 water changes, the last being a 35% change. It dropped from 40ppm to 20ppm and then 1 day later it's back to 40ppm. Is this normal after moving a tank?
Please help
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footballdude2k3
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It sounds like the tank might be cycling if your nitrates are that high, can you post up a picture of the tank, or at least as much information about it as possible? What else are you testing for? What kinds of test kits are you using, and have you only tested once, or tested multiple times? If you are getting readings that far apart, it sounds like a bad test kit as well.
1983evansd
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Hi there, I've tested everyday for 2 weeks with a API saltwater master kit, my ammonia is 0 nitrite 0 ph is around 8.2 and nitrates are 40ppm. It's a juewl rio 180 tank with a skimmer and pump that the tank came with plus I've added a canister filter with a uv light.
1983evansd
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Thanks for the reply jimbo662, the canister filter was only added a week ago so the tank had a week to settle... Do you think the old sand could be causing the problem? The guy I brought the tank from said he hadn't done a water change for a month and there's long hair algae growing on the rocks.. Could I just need to keep up the water changes and hope things settle?
lionfish5740
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I've fixed a couple of tanks with similar issues before. We still don't have much info about the tank as requested above. IMO large water changes will help but it might take a long time, although weekly changes are still required. Do you know how long the previous owner had the tank running? What kind of skimmer is it and does it appear to be pulling nasty stuff out? What kind of bioload does it have now and how much are you feeding? Are you using activated carbon? More info would help.
You could take a powerhead or even a turkey baster and blast the rocks to push any settled crap into the water column. The filters then can start removing it. You will need to clean your filters more frequently to get the stuff out of the water and to keep the filters pulling at their max efficiency. It might not hurt to add some more powerheads to keep particles suspended more.
If the tank has been severely neglected then you might want to slowly replace the sand bed because it will be storing much of the excess nutrients. This is an option if you feel up to it. Removing it all at once will probably cause a new cycling process that would kill inhabitants so that is not advised. I would say be safe and remove about 1/4 of the sand at a time by syphoning it out and use the amount removed as a water change (just add freshly made water back). You might see high levels for a while after the sand is removed if the rocks are releasing any that was stored in them. After you get everything better then slowly add some live sand back. You might want to cycle the new sand in a bucket using your cleaner tank water and then adding it to the tank.
Good luck
You could take a powerhead or even a turkey baster and blast the rocks to push any settled crap into the water column. The filters then can start removing it. You will need to clean your filters more frequently to get the stuff out of the water and to keep the filters pulling at their max efficiency. It might not hurt to add some more powerheads to keep particles suspended more.
If the tank has been severely neglected then you might want to slowly replace the sand bed because it will be storing much of the excess nutrients. This is an option if you feel up to it. Removing it all at once will probably cause a new cycling process that would kill inhabitants so that is not advised. I would say be safe and remove about 1/4 of the sand at a time by syphoning it out and use the amount removed as a water change (just add freshly made water back). You might see high levels for a while after the sand is removed if the rocks are releasing any that was stored in them. After you get everything better then slowly add some live sand back. You might want to cycle the new sand in a bucket using your cleaner tank water and then adding it to the tank.
Good luck
1983evansd
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Hi mate, the tank has been running for 3 years but the guy before me only had the tank 6 months. The skimmer is the one that comes with the tank (juwel rio 180) the bi load I'm running now is bio balls, active carbon, and the stuff that looks like father Xmas's beard. I brought some stuff to put in my fillter yesterday, I believe it's called de*nitrate but after having it in there over night and the best part of today my coral looked terrible so I removed it. Then later tonight I realised my hermit crab is dead! Is it reef safe guys because the bloke in the shop seemed to think it was!
lionfish5740
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So you're the third owner in three years? If so then replacing the sand wouldn't be a bad idea. If the tank wasn't maintained like it should be and/or overfed regularly then there will be loads of crap in the sand. It will continue to leach out as you pull it out of the water. Does the skimmer seem to be working? What is the color and smell of the skimmate? How often does it need emptying?
I'm guessing the stuff that looks like father Xmas' beard is some filter floss to catch larger organics. Not familiar with Denitrate but I did a quick search. It claims that it's just a substitute/aid for live rock, giving anaerobic area for bacteria that would consume your nitrate. Did you rinse it thoroughly, until the water ran clear, before putting it in the tank? The filter floss should filter the water first and then the carbon. Bioballs are going to be similar to the Denitrate product, it's just a place for bacteria to grow. Some people use them but most decide not to. I've heard before that they become nitrate-factories over time if not kept up with. You want to use tank water to flush any excess debris out of them if you keep using them. My opinion is that your live rock should be sufficient and the bioballs will just be an extra chore.
Did you test the water when you found the dead crab by chance?
I'll try to pay closer attention here.
1983evansd
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Hi there and thanks for all your input, the skimmer is pulling half a cup of green water, it's very watery if you know what I mean? How do you suggest clearing the sand bed out? In stages? It's only about half inch thick. No I didn't rinse the de nitrate, I take it that was a school boy error? When the crab died I did do a water test and nothing had changed.. I spoke with a guy at the marine fish shop and he said 40ppm is fine for corals, surely this is not right is it? Thanks for your help
Jimbo662
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you may need to adjust the skimmer so that it's not pulling so much water. If you post the type of skimmer you've got someone should be able to tell you the best way to make the adjustments.
lionfish5740
Active Member
That's a thin layer of sand, you could vacuum any detritus out of it easily enough. If you want to remove it then you should be able to do it all at once.
From what I read, the Denitrate was suppose to be rinsed first. Live and learn lol.
The 40ppm will depend on the corals, they're all different in what they can tolerate. It's certainly in your interest to get it down to a lower level.
I'm not familiar with your skimmer but... ways to adjust a skimmer: either adjusting the air or water intake (should have valves if so) or adjusting the water level (how deep that it sits in the water). If you want it to not pull so wet then you want to raise it up some. Change this by small increments and give it some time before observing and changing again (if needed).
Adding sugar is a form of carbon dosing. It's essentially breading the beneficial bacteria that would consume nitrates. I don't suggest it to less experienced reefers because there are things that can go bad (dinoflagellates, cyanobacteria, etc.). If you want to learn about it then google 'carbon dosing' or search the chemistry forums. MAKE SURE YOUR SKIMMER IS SUFFICIENT TO DO THIS BEFOREHAND! And also go slowly with the method. But again, I don't suggest you try it without studying it, understanding it and having a sufficient skimmer to handle it.
1983evansd
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Ok brilliant, I know the two parts on the skimmer your talking about and will start tinkering... If i managed to her rid of the nitrates in the tank would the hair alge disappear? If so how long would it take ounce the nitrates where down?
Thanks again
Thanks again
