this can't be good.... or is it?

[sp1187]

 

[Jamesrup0411]

Water change lol

 

[WiscoFishNut]

 

[sp1187]

Water change lol

160g total between the sump and DT. I've done two 30g changes over 4 days. hasn't made a dent in it.
oh, and same test results from the LFS so it's not the test kit.
RODI tested 0 from two different meters.
water change water tested zero.
no algae or cyno any where in the tank, besides the algae scrubber.
my six line wrasse went missing, but don't know that a 1" dead fish could spike nitrates that high? especially with all the hermits and worms doing clean up.
completely baffled.

 

[Jamesrup0411]

Honestly I’d retest and if it’s true then definitely a water change. Also tell more about your tank...how old, size, and throw in some other parameters

 

[sp1187]

lol, I sent that exact pic to my elderly uncle last week when he posted up he was going to get on the roof to clean the gutters.

 

[Jamesrup0411]

160g total between the sump and DT. I've done two 30g changes over 4 days. hasn't made a dent in it.
oh, and same test results from the LFS so it's not the test kit.
RODI tested 0 from two different meters.
water change water tested zero.
no algae or cyno any where in the tank, besides the algae scrubber.
my six line wrasse went missing, but don't know that a 1" dead fish could spike nitrates that high? especially with all the hermits and worms doing clean up.
completely baffled.

What are you running in your sump?

 

[WiscoFishNut]

Maybe a bunch of CUC died off? Dead algae in the scrubber maybe?

 

[sp1187]

What are you running in your sump?

SURF4X upflow algae scrubber
5 8x8x4 MarinePureBio Blocks
PO4 - .026
Ca -500
dKH - 10.9
ph - 8.2
salinity - 1.025
temp - 77
150g tall
40g sump

 

[sp1187]

Maybe a bunch of CUC died off? Dead algae in the scrubber maybe?

nope and nope.
I'm in the scrubber daily as the foxface and lamark love the algae it grows and the anthias love the pods from it.

 

[Reefer Reboot]

Did the LFS use API test kit also? The reason I ask is that I am currently in the process of bringing my nitrate level down also. Just FYI, from the same cup of tank water I tried three different test kits, API, Salifert and Nyos. The API looked like yours, the Salifert read 30 ppm and the Nyos read 20 PPM. I then ran it a second time just to make sure. Same results. I think that the API test kit might not be so good on a linear basis once the levels get above 20 ppm range.

 

[Jamesrup0411]

If new brand test fails then I’d pull the marine pure blocks

 

[sp1187]

Did the LFS use API test kit also? The reason I ask is that I am currently in the process of bringing my nitrate level down also. Just FYI, from the same cup of tank water I tried three different test kits, API, Salifert and Nyos. The API looked like yours, the Salifert read 30 ppm and the Nyos read 20 PPM. I then ran it a second time just to make sure. Same results. I think that the API test kit might not be so good on a linear basis once the levels get above 20 ppm range.

not sure what the LFS is using. I'll check that. thanks.

 

[slojim]

Are you recycling all the algae back to the fish for food?

 

[ahiggins]

If new brand test fails then I’d pull the marine pure blocks

I second this but be careful, I’ve heard of people’s blocks turning to mush as they moved them. So turn off flow lol

 

[Uncle99]

what’s normal in Nitrate for your DT and how long has it been 160ppm?
Trying to understand the speed of the change.

 

[Cory]

A high no2 level can give false no3 levels iirc. Test for nitrities.

Also, there is no reason for something to die for nitrate to be high as the addition of food daily increases no3 substantially because fish dont use all the nitrogen. Something like 80 percent is released.

 

[sp1187]

Are you recycling all the algae back to the fish for food?

no. some gets removed during maintenance.

 

[sp1187]

what’s normal in Nitrate for your DT and how long has it been 160ppm?
Trying to understand the speed of the change.

usually in the 40+ range.
2 weeks now.
I did two water changes with no change in NO3 levels....apparently. doing a third change today.

 

[sp1187]

A high no2 level can give false no3 levels iirc. Test for nitrities.

Also, there is no reason for something to die for nitrate to be high as the addition of food daily increases no3 substantially because fish dont use all the nitrogen. Something like 80 percent is released.

thanks. I'll check that today.