Tank levels

[Chany]

Hey. I have posted a couple times and the responses have helped my boyfriend and I tremendously. We bought a 125g acclimated tank last week. Travelled 2 hours to its new home. We have done a few water changes and added some NO3O4-X but our levels will not come down. As of about 10 mins ago the levels read :
Calcium: about 520
Phosphate 1-.05 ppm
KH 14 drops (12 is max on the scale reading we have)
Nitrate 80ppm
please help!!! I love theses babies and I want them to thrive!!!

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Salinity?
D

 

[Chany]

Salinity?
D

1.027

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Do a wc with like 1.020 to try abd bring that down to 1.025 or even 1.024 and re test alk or dkh please.
This will help.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Like 20-25%

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

You can use 1.025 sw as top off for a cpl days to bring it back up if you go to low. Just take it slow and ull be good.
D

 

[Mikedawg]

When you write "acclimated" did you use old sand/rock/water for your new set up? I'm thinking about why you might have elevated nitrate/phosphate.

 

[Chany]

We used eveything from the tank. We moved it from tank to buckets (clean buckets) back to tank.

 

[gentlefish]

I am not clear about your life stock and sensitivity. Will presume that the transport mixed up a lot of detritus/ nitrate. This may be most concerning. If your calcium, alkalinity and SG is high, considering that you moved the tank complete, those are likely preexisting values and the life stock should be used to it. It’s a tricky situation. You likely want to do water exchanges to decrease nitrates, but would have to use the reef salt that was used before, likely a high Alkalinity mix. I would just work with 1.026 mix for now. Any detritus that accumulates in corners or socks, remove daily. Best of luck, you need some.

 

[mdb_talon]

Thats a lot of high numbers but i would say dont panic. Do some moderate size water changes with a lower alk salt mix. Will lower alk and nutrients.

 

[gentlefish]

IMO nitrate 80 is a bit too high for inverts. Would be nicer if it could be 50 ( and less in the long run) … any inverts in the tank?

 

[Mikedawg]

We used eveything from the tank. We moved it from tank to buckets (clean buckets) back to tank.

Okay, may well be why you're seeing high levels of no3 and po4 as organic matter is stirred up, etc. Water changes and good salt mix will help you get better numbers.