Swapped Tank: High Nitrates and high calcium

DIGH · 01/27/2016, 12:57 AM

Hi, I'm not really new to the hobby, but I'm still an amateur looking to learn as much as I can for a successful tank. I recently went from a 100 gallon FOWLR that was 17 years old, with a few upgrades here and there to a 72 gallon bowfront.

Details of the swap and tank:
Basically started over, brand new with a refugium, with live rock and a skimmer. In tank are two hydor fans on a controller for wave action. I moved over liverock only, and maybe 25 gallons of water from the old tank (I am pretty sure that is where my issue is) to the new tank. It's been up and cycling since January 13th. Only livestock in it are 5 nerite snails, 1 brittle star and 6 red clawed hemits. I placed live sand, 80 lbs, on the base. Using a 48 led light system, will be adding more.

Now, to the issue. I've been adding water for top off, the skimmer is working well using a wet method, I clean the socks, and the filter. 8.4 ph, 1.025 sg, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 160 nitrate and 500 calcium. Using a master test kit good til 10/2017. I was using tap water (ya, I know) for the rest of the initial fill up. I went back and read our city water report and did my own test on it, and well, we have very hard water with about 25 ppm nitrates. So, I got a BRS 5 stage plus universal RODI that I have been using since. (City had approximately 350 tds to 0 with my system).

So, as you can see clearly I have really high nitrates (180) and pretty high calcium (550). Nitrates are my biggest issue, I have caeto in the refugium, but it's only about the size of a baseball. I've done my first partial water change at 10 gallons of Rodi water, and I started carbon dosing with vodka at 1.5 ml per day. I expected to see a small change with the water change, but nothing.

Because I am cycling, what would a complete water change look like? Recommended? Should I keep on my same track and just wait til I get to 5 ppm or less before any other livestock addition? I have been leaving the light off as well.

With regard to high calcium, I think over time with water changes I will bring it down now that I have the Rodi system, but what do you all think of that number, is it detrimental? I'm not even sure it's in an available form for corals.

My planned tank is to go with eaiser care corals, percula or other clowns and anemones. But, we all know how things and ideas change. Lol I appreciate your thoughts and inputs

DIGH · 01/27/2016, 01:03 AM

Oh, few more things. I have no canopy or glass lid, so gas exchange is good, no Co2 issues. I have not tested phosphates or magnesium. I don't have the tests for this and in the past I didn't have these issues so just the master test kit worked.

toothybugs · 01/27/2016, 06:42 AM

Check a batch of freshly made saltwater. A lot of salts (particularly Reef Crystals) will typically have higher calcium values right out of the gate. OR your salt wasn't mixed very well and settled before you scooped it out for mixing.

And yes, a good water change will help with nitrates up front. Unfortunately that's all part of the 'new tank' process.

DIGH · 01/27/2016, 06:18 PM

Toothy, thanks. I guess my follow up questions is will the calcium eventually be used up or "consumed " or will I need to find a way to remove it from the system aside from water changges.

DIGH · 01/27/2016, 06:23 PM

I'm also very concerned, even during cycling, with such an astronomically high nitrate count. 180 ppm.

DIGH · 01/29/2016, 12:53 AM

Well, I will have the MG and Phosphate test kits here on monday, along with some AZ NO3. I am just very wary of the high nitrate count and want to get it down to a more manageable level with my refugium and carbon/vodka dosing.

01/27/2016, 12:57 AM	#1
DIGH Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 27	Swapped Tank: High Nitrates and high calcium Hi, I'm not really new to the hobby, but I'm still an amateur looking to learn as much as I can for a successful tank. I recently went from a 100 gallon FOWLR that was 17 years old, with a few upgrades here and there to a 72 gallon bowfront. Details of the swap and tank: Basically started over, brand new with a refugium, with live rock and a skimmer. In tank are two hydor fans on a controller for wave action. I moved over liverock only, and maybe 25 gallons of water from the old tank (I am pretty sure that is where my issue is) to the new tank. It's been up and cycling since January 13th. Only livestock in it are 5 nerite snails, 1 brittle star and 6 red clawed hemits. I placed live sand, 80 lbs, on the base. Using a 48 led light system, will be adding more. Now, to the issue. I've been adding water for top off, the skimmer is working well using a wet method, I clean the socks, and the filter. 8.4 ph, 1.025 sg, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 160 nitrate and 500 calcium. Using a master test kit good til 10/2017. I was using tap water (ya, I know) for the rest of the initial fill up. I went back and read our city water report and did my own test on it, and well, we have very hard water with about 25 ppm nitrates. So, I got a BRS 5 stage plus universal RODI that I have been using since. (City had approximately 350 tds to 0 with my system). So, as you can see clearly I have really high nitrates (180) and pretty high calcium (550). Nitrates are my biggest issue, I have caeto in the refugium, but it's only about the size of a baseball. I've done my first partial water change at 10 gallons of Rodi water, and I started carbon dosing with vodka at 1.5 ml per day. I expected to see a small change with the water change, but nothing. Because I am cycling, what would a complete water change look like? Recommended? Should I keep on my same track and just wait til I get to 5 ppm or less before any other livestock addition? I have been leaving the light off as well. With regard to high calcium, I think over time with water changes I will bring it down now that I have the Rodi system, but what do you all think of that number, is it detrimental? I'm not even sure it's in an available form for corals. My planned tank is to go with eaiser care corals, percula or other clowns and anemones. But, we all know how things and ideas change. Lol I appreciate your thoughts and inputs

01/27/2016, 01:03 AM	#2
DIGH Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 27	Oh, few more things. I have no canopy or glass lid, so gas exchange is good, no Co2 issues. I have not tested phosphates or magnesium. I don't have the tests for this and in the past I didn't have these issues so just the master test kit worked.

01/27/2016, 06:42 AM	#3
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	Check a batch of freshly made saltwater. A lot of salts (particularly Reef Crystals) will typically have higher calcium values right out of the gate. OR your salt wasn't mixed very well and settled before you scooped it out for mixing. And yes, a good water change will help with nitrates up front. Unfortunately that's all part of the 'new tank' process.

01/27/2016, 06:18 PM	#4
DIGH Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 27	Toothy, thanks. I guess my follow up questions is will the calcium eventually be used up or "consumed " or will I need to find a way to remove it from the system aside from water changges.

01/27/2016, 06:23 PM	#5
DIGH Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 27	I'm also very concerned, even during cycling, with such an astronomically high nitrate count. 180 ppm.

01/29/2016, 12:53 AM	#6
DIGH Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 27	Well, I will have the MG and Phosphate test kits here on monday, along with some AZ NO3. I am just very wary of the high nitrate count and want to get it down to a more manageable level with my refugium and carbon/vodka dosing.