Random spike

Mickie · Dec 15, 2016

My tank has been super stable for 3 months now...no changes in any of my parameters. I tested today, and I have a spike in nitrates (40-50 ppm) and my ammonia is slightly over 0 (definitely less than .25, but not QUITE 0). Nitrites are 0.

(My ammonia, nitrites are always 0, my PH is stable at 8.1 and my nitrates are usually around 20ppm.)

My last water change was 2 weeks ago, and all my parameters were perfect.

What would cause this?

--I fed maybe 2 hours before.

--I've decreased feedings from what I normally do the last 2 weeks

--A few days ago I used Aiptasia-x to rid my tank of glass anemones (5 of them).

--I took 5 gallons of rodi water from a friend as top off (I ran out of where I normally buy it).

--My clowns laid eggs

Nothing in my tank seems stressed, and I haven't lost any cuc.

Tia! I'm going to retest tonight.

Oh, and my nitrate test stinks? Is that normal?

GAcoral · Dec 15, 2016

Don't know what other means you use to get the impurities and waste from your tank because you didn't mention if you have been using an Skimmer or not.
Some people would blame bad results from testing using cheap test, and others would compare top brands and noticed very little difference within them.
If you have the chance to take a water sample to your lfs that would help, however I've noticed around my lfs that some use the API stuff, well, at least whether your using the same test kit from whoever it's helping you it would give you a range of margin. Remember that a tank that hasn't experienced no issues before it doesn't mean it's a tank that it's healthy, tanks tend to accumulate No3 and Phos over time and that doesn't happen overnight.

tankstudy · Dec 15, 2016

What were your nitrates before they spiked to 40-50 ppm. 0 ppm?

Mickie · Dec 15, 2016

tankstudy said:
What were your nitrates before they spiked to 40-50 ppm. 0 ppm?

They were at about 20 ppm last week.

Mickie · Dec 15, 2016

My nitrate test is still good (exp date) but smells REALLY bad (bottle #1).

I retested. My ammonia is at 0 but my nitrates are at least 40 ppm.

Salty1962 · Dec 15, 2016

Has anything died in your tank? Dead fish or snails will cause that some times. I'd make a good sized wc.

Mickie · Dec 15, 2016

Salty1962 said:
Has anything died in your tank? Dead fish or snails will cause that some times. I'd make a good sized wc.

Everyone is accounted for. So strange. Blarg. I planned on doing a WC next week, but jeez.

aaron23 · Dec 15, 2016

What form of nutrient export do you use aside from water changes? Size of tank and how many inhabitants?

Mickie · Dec 15, 2016

aaron23 said:
What form of nutrient export do you use aside from water changes? Size of tank and how many inhabitants?

It's a 60 gallon (4ft length).
3 clowns, one spot foxface
Cuc (snails and crabs)

I have a skimmer and aquaclear (3 filtration plus purigen). I primarily dry skim, but I've turned it up a bit to get a bit more wet out of it.

The last two WC I've done have been at 30% (20 gallons). I have about 50 gallons of water and a bunch of live rock.