moving rocks causes nitrite spikes? I am having a Nitrate Problem

WXB · 03/30/2011, 09:05 PM

So 4 days prior to moving rocks to fetch a fish that hurt its eye and needed to go to QT i tested the water and my Nitrate was at 0.00 to 0.25 . After getting the fish in QT it was water test day and 3 days after getting the fish out it was water test day and my Nitrates went through the roof. it was up to 60 to 80. I freaked out. I have been doing 7 to 8 gal water changes on my 29 bio for the past 2 days. I have been trying to figure this out. My levels since the water changes are at a 60. I have not done a water change today. what if anything can I do. My Nem is doing great shrimp are great crabs are great fish are great. Any ideas? give it a week and see whats going then do more changes?
I read somthing that moving rock can and will cause nitrate spikes to happen. True? sounds like it is possible.
Ph 8.2
Amonia 0.00
nitrites 0.00
Cal is 460
phos .25
sal 1.025
___________NITRATES 60_____________

I dont want to add a nitrate reducer one i dont like chemicals and with my experience it crashes the PH levels using that crap. the only thing i will and have added is my prime water treatment. after testing today i am not seeing any reduction in the Trate levels with the water changes and adding the prime as of yester day.

thegrun · 03/30/2011, 09:28 PM

That is a large spike! Some detritus that will build up under the rock work that will cause a spike in nitrates when disturbed, but I have not heard of such a drastic jump. Are you sure the test kit is accurate? I would think with such large water changes there would have been a reduction. How old is the tank? Any chance of something else having died and contributing to the nitrates?

seapug · 03/30/2011, 09:51 PM

yes it can. I did some rearranging of my aquascape a few weeks ago and have been battling a nutrient spike since then. It's not quite as bad as yours, but I have had major nitrate issues on my tank in the past when a powerhead fell and kicked up an area of deep sand. It was so bad I used AZ-NO3 to bring it down, which worked remarkably well, I must say.

duncantse · 03/30/2011, 09:54 PM

Pretty sure it can. Your live rock can catch a lot of dirt over time.

WXB · 03/30/2011, 10:04 PM

the tank is 3 years old. It has been stable and spot on with water changes and proper maint. I have never had this happen. Thanks for the help.
So AZ-NO3 will help? what is it?

With the water changes and such how long do you think it would take for things to settle down. You said you have had problems for a long time now? still having problems?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/31/2011, 06:08 AM

AZ-NO3 is a commercial product that most likely works like a carbon source (vinegar, vodka, sugar, etc) which drives bacterial growth, and that growth reduces nitrate and to some extent, phosphate.

WXB · 03/31/2011, 03:56 PM

Has anyone else had the problem with moving rocks then have a nitrate spike?

supacharged21 · 05/14/2011, 09:44 AM

What would prevent this, maybe blasting them off more often with a turkey baster?

sjwitt · 05/14/2011, 12:24 PM

To prevent or at least minimize you need to get rid of "dead zones" of water movement. I have some power heads pointed to the back near the bottom of my tank in order to keep movement under and around stuff.

I rearrange the power heads from time to time to "mix up" the current. Also blowing rocks with turkey baster and the like. Opening up the rock scape to allow flow around and between helps. Many folks have rocks stacked up tight which will restrict flow and promote dead zones.

MrTuskfish · 05/14/2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjwitt

To prevent or at least minimize you need to get rid of "dead zones" of water movement. I have some power heads pointed to the back near the bottom of my tank in order to keep movement under and around stuff.

I rearrange the power heads from time to time to "mix up" the current. Also blowing rocks with turkey baster and the like. Opening up the rock scape to allow flow around and between helps. Many folks have rocks stacked up tight which will restrict flow and promote dead zones.

I agree, water flow could be the problem. The crud that ends up as nitrate is broken down no matter where it is; but water flow is needed to get the nutrients into the bio-system to be converted to nitrogen. When a pile of crud, that ha been sitting still, is suddenly released into the water column, the bio-system isn't able to handle the sudden new load.

03/30/2011, 09:05 PM	#1
WXB Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 258	moving rocks causes nitrite spikes? I am having a Nitrate Problem So 4 days prior to moving rocks to fetch a fish that hurt its eye and needed to go to QT i tested the water and my Nitrate was at 0.00 to 0.25 . After getting the fish in QT it was water test day and 3 days after getting the fish out it was water test day and my Nitrates went through the roof. it was up to 60 to 80. I freaked out. I have been doing 7 to 8 gal water changes on my 29 bio for the past 2 days. I have been trying to figure this out. My levels since the water changes are at a 60. I have not done a water change today. what if anything can I do. My Nem is doing great shrimp are great crabs are great fish are great. Any ideas? give it a week and see whats going then do more changes? I read somthing that moving rock can and will cause nitrate spikes to happen. True? sounds like it is possible. Ph 8.2 Amonia 0.00 nitrites 0.00 Cal is 460 phos .25 sal 1.025 ___________NITRATES 60_____________ I dont want to add a nitrate reducer one i dont like chemicals and with my experience it crashes the PH levels using that crap. the only thing i will and have added is my prime water treatment. after testing today i am not seeing any reduction in the Trate levels with the water changes and adding the prime as of yester day.

03/30/2011, 09:51 PM	#3
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	yes it can. I did some rearranging of my aquascape a few weeks ago and have been battling a nutrient spike since then. It's not quite as bad as yours, but I have had major nitrate issues on my tank in the past when a powerhead fell and kicked up an area of deep sand. It was so bad I used AZ-NO3 to bring it down, which worked remarkably well, I must say. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

03/31/2011, 06:08 AM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	AZ-NO3 is a commercial product that most likely works like a carbon source (vinegar, vodka, sugar, etc) which drives bacterial growth, and that growth reduces nitrate and to some extent, phosphate. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Cycling...no ammonia/nitrite spike, now nitrates are up	shuguley	Reef Discussion	2	06/28/2008 03:16 PM
Small amonia and nitrite spike - dangerous?	krafty	New to the Hobby	4	10/25/2006 05:52 AM
Ammonia/Nitrite spike	Mr31415	New to the Hobby	3	07/27/2006 04:54 PM
does dying macro cause ammonia or nitrite spike	john37	Reef Discussion	1	01/24/2006 12:53 AM
Yikes! Morning nitrite spike after 2nd shipment!	Fountainhead	Tampa Bay Saltwater	8	04/10/2004 07:22 PM

03/30/2011, 09:28 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	That is a large spike! Some detritus that will build up under the rock work that will cause a spike in nitrates when disturbed, but I have not heard of such a drastic jump. Are you sure the test kit is accurate? I would think with such large water changes there would have been a reduction. How old is the tank? Any chance of something else having died and contributing to the nitrates?

03/30/2011, 09:54 PM	#4
duncantse Fish Advisor Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,604	Pretty sure it can. Your live rock can catch a lot of dirt over time.

03/30/2011, 10:04 PM	#5
WXB Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 258	the tank is 3 years old. It has been stable and spot on with water changes and proper maint. I have never had this happen. Thanks for the help. So AZ-NO3 will help? what is it? With the water changes and such how long do you think it would take for things to settle down. You said you have had problems for a long time now? still having problems?

03/31/2011, 03:56 PM	#7
WXB Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 258	Has anyone else had the problem with moving rocks then have a nitrate spike?

05/14/2011, 09:44 AM	#8
supacharged21 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 49	What would prevent this, maybe blasting them off more often with a turkey baster?

05/14/2011, 12:24 PM	#9
sjwitt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: USA, East Coast Posts: 896	To prevent or at least minimize you need to get rid of "dead zones" of water movement. I have some power heads pointed to the back near the bottom of my tank in order to keep movement under and around stuff. I rearrange the power heads from time to time to "mix up" the current. Also blowing rocks with turkey baster and the like. Opening up the rock scape to allow flow around and between helps. Many folks have rocks stacked up tight which will restrict flow and promote dead zones.