nitrates at 20ppms???

[tommy1618]

hi, just curious, tank has been running for almost a year, crashed recently pretty bad, let it cycle for about 2 weeks, all levels were fine. i changed from bio balls in sump to live rock. for the last 3 days, my nitrates are at a standstill at 20 ppms. should i worry? could it be from the fish i recently added or the cured live rock i added to sump or possibly the coral? thanks for any inside advice. new to this forum, before i use to take different advice from different saltwater shop employees, which don't really help being they all have there own opinion thanks again

 

[tommy1618]

wow, 24 views, and no suggestions. thanks

 

[trivan]

I'm new at this but seems like your cycle isn't complete. What r your other parameters? Adding the live rock to the sump may have caused another mini cycle.

 

[Og Drogon]

First: every time you add rock,fish,invertebrate...Ect. You will have a spike in your chemistry..that is why people are told to put in these thing a bit at a time. So it won't effect the tank so much and give time to the microbe to multiply so they can do there stuff

Second...you said your tank just went thru a crash did you make sure that what ever happened is completely gone?? Taken care of???
Or you can simply be going thru a mini cycle.. Cause you added the rocks.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Was your crash after the 2 week cycle. Or you had a crash and it has been two weeks since. At any rate a full initial cycle should take 4-8 weeks. Usually closer to the 8 week side.

 

[Og Drogon]

BTW it could have been from using the bio-balls and now you have to wait till the skimmer/sump does it's job

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

I told you to add stuff slowly Tommy. Adding anything increases your bioload and change your tank's chemistry. Don't add anything for a while, keep an eye on your params and hope everything makes it through.

 

[tommy1618]

i mean all looks well, fish are happy and eating. corals all exposed. i just hope my inpatient ass didnt go over board. its just the nitrates, all else is fine, thats why i believe it is not a cycle. thank you all for your help

 

[guri]

add macro algae also i don't think everything is normal phosphate should be high

 

[Og Drogon]

All might look well but don't mean it is ......give it time and do get some chaeto for your refugium it WILL help out a'lot ..

 

[tommy1618]

Thanks

 

[TheSherm]

If your tank has only been cycling for 2 weeks it probably isnt done yet. Nitrates will spike at the conclusion of the cycle, so did they go up over 20? Once the nitrates spike wait for the spike to plateau, then do a big water change, 25 percent or so and continue with weekly water changes for a month.

If it is fully cycled, do a water change, 25 percent. That the best way to reduce nitrates, if they go back up, reduce feeding, check and replace and filter fads, socks or floss. If that doesnt work, probably too many fish. Find the problem before adding chaeto or macro algae. You may not need it.

 

[tommy1618]

no they stayed @ 20 for the past3 days, odd. i was waiting on an incline bt never happened. thank god. fish, i have few, its not that. i will do a 25 percent water change, thanks for the advice

 

[fishman1069]

Tommy, I have some macros for you, if you want them!!! Your gonna have to come to me this time tho lol!!

 

[tommy1618]

lol, thanks man, woke up this morning, greeted my tank,and tested the waters before my first swim, j/k the nitrates droped to 10 ppms, maybe just a spike, dont know what caused it though. i accidentally spilt some coffee in the tank, about 3ounces, wonder if that might of helped (had my snails working like never before lol)

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

LMAO! You are getting the tank high on caffeine now? You are friggin nuts bro. Hey whatever works. Are the fish swimming really fast too? :biglaugh:

 

[tommy1618]

lmao.it was last night, alil coffee with equal and powdered creamer. i assume they all chipped in. they looked a little exhausted this morning kidding