Tank Cycle problems?

PatrickFul10 · 07/16/2013, 03:14 PM

Hello,
I set up my FOWLR 55 gallon tank 4 days ago. I have tested my water the last 3 days and it is confusing. My ammonia has been at .50 (normal for a cycle), my nitrite has been at 0 (ok..?), but my nitrate has been off the charts at 160ppm. This is confusing to me and seems backwards.
I bought this tank and lr and the sand from a guy on craigslist. When i bought it, he had the liverock and sand in saltwater. i brought it home, kept the live rock in the water, but washed out the sand with fresh hose water. Im thinking this may have caused the nitrate explosion???
if this is normal or did I made a mistake by cleaning the sand with fresh water?
any ideas on what i should do? wait? waterchange?
thanks.

roenicknewf · 07/16/2013, 03:37 PM

So was this an up and running system ?If so, since the rock and sand was already established you won't have to cure it ..
You did stir up the sand so that is where the ammonia and trates coming from ..
I would let the tank get settled and check levels in a few days ..WC's won't hurt either

PatrickFul10 · 07/16/2013, 03:49 PM

Yes the system was up and running, but it didn't have fish or anything in it for nutrients for the bacteria to consume...but yes it was cured. alright. i think i will just wait a few days and go from there.

azjohnny · 07/16/2013, 07:24 PM

If you use sand I think its a good rule to follow to never use used sand, sand is like a sponge absorbing nutrients and phosphates, this is what leads up to the "old tank syndrome". Some reefers have done regular partial sand changes.

drej424 · 07/16/2013, 10:17 PM

Are you running a protein skimmer? There could be an accumulation of detritus on the rock you purchased. That would account for the nitrates. Try a combination of protein skimming, water changes, and high flow in the tank.

07/16/2013, 03:14 PM	#1
PatrickFul10 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 14	Tank Cycle problems? Hello, I set up my FOWLR 55 gallon tank 4 days ago. I have tested my water the last 3 days and it is confusing. My ammonia has been at .50 (normal for a cycle), my nitrite has been at 0 (ok..?), but my nitrate has been off the charts at 160ppm. This is confusing to me and seems backwards. I bought this tank and lr and the sand from a guy on craigslist. When i bought it, he had the liverock and sand in saltwater. i brought it home, kept the live rock in the water, but washed out the sand with fresh hose water. Im thinking this may have caused the nitrate explosion??? if this is normal or did I made a mistake by cleaning the sand with fresh water? any ideas on what i should do? wait? waterchange? thanks.

07/16/2013, 03:37 PM	#2
roenicknewf Tank is never big enough Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Treasure Lake PA Posts: 372	So was this an up and running system ?If so, since the rock and sand was already established you won't have to cure it .. You did stir up the sand so that is where the ammonia and trates coming from .. I would let the tank get settled and check levels in a few days ..WC's won't hurt either __________________ I have algae growing,on my screen ;) Current Tank Info: 265 FOWLR,2 anglers each in a 30

07/16/2013, 10:17 PM	#5
drej424 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: LI, NY Posts: 438	Are you running a protein skimmer? There could be an accumulation of detritus on the rock you purchased. That would account for the nitrates. Try a combination of protein skimming, water changes, and high flow in the tank. __________________ Denise "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming." Dori Current Tank Info: 150G reef, 215G Fowlr

07/16/2013, 03:49 PM	#3
PatrickFul10 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 14	Yes the system was up and running, but it didn't have fish or anything in it for nutrients for the bacteria to consume...but yes it was cured. alright. i think i will just wait a few days and go from there.

07/16/2013, 07:24 PM	#4
azjohnny Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Gold Canyon Posts: 2,914	If you use sand I think its a good rule to follow to never use used sand, sand is like a sponge absorbing nutrients and phosphates, this is what leads up to the "old tank syndrome". Some reefers have done regular partial sand changes.