help..very high nitrate (50ppm) while stable nitrite (near 0) and ammonia (near 0).

jamesdno · 06-27-2008, 11:09 AM

hi..after adding clean up crew and a fish..my water parameter became very high nitrate..but low ammonia and nitrite and ph 8.2.. is my skimmer not working or should i add more air to the skimmer? help..thanks

meschaefer · 06-27-2008, 11:16 AM

If you still have ammonia, your tank is not done cycling and high nitrate is to be expected. You added a clean up crew and fish, which increased the bioload. Even if your tank had been done cycling, the addition of a bioload in a new tank will create a mini cycle. You will see a slight increase in ammonia, followed by an increase in nitrite and then nitrate.

**KathyC** · 06-27-2008, 11:37 AM

In addition to what Matt said, you are going to need to do some water changes to get the ammonia out of there or you could easily lose your fish & inverts. At a minimum the ammonia will cause them harm.

This will extend the length of your cycle.
Please don't add any further fish/inverts/corals until your tank is stable..meaning zero ammonia, nitrites and low nitrates.

Do you have a pic of the bubbles in your skimmer?

06-27-2008, 11:09 AM	#1
jamesdno Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nyc Posts: 13 Reefer Ratings: (0) Friends: (0)	help..very high nitrate (50ppm) while stable nitrite (near 0) and ammonia (near 0). hi..after adding clean up crew and a fish..my water parameter became very high nitrate..but low ammonia and nitrite and ph 8.2.. is my skimmer not working or should i add more air to the skimmer? help..thanks

06-27-2008, 11:16 AM	#2
meschaefer One to Ignore Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Astoria Posts: 2,510 Reefer Ratings: (14) Friends: (3)	If you still have ammonia, your tank is not done cycling and high nitrate is to be expected. You added a clean up crew and fish, which increased the bioload. Even if your tank had been done cycling, the addition of a bioload in a new tank will create a mini cycle. You will see a slight increase in ammonia, followed by an increase in nitrite and then nitrate. __________________ Matt When you pay too much, you lose a little money, that's all When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. John Ruskin (1819-1900)

06-27-2008, 11:37 AM	#3
KathyC Rafflemeister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Barnum Island Posts: 4,711 Reefer Ratings: (80) Friends: (53)	In addition to what Matt said, you are going to need to do some water changes to get the ammonia out of there or you could easily lose your fish & inverts. At a minimum the ammonia will cause them harm. This will extend the length of your cycle. Please don't add any further fish/inverts/corals until your tank is stable..meaning zero ammonia, nitrites and low nitrates. Do you have a pic of the bubbles in your skimmer? __________________ Don't just treat the symptom, remedy the cause!

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