Nitrates at 20!!

Eel Freak · 08/10/2011, 08:36 AM

I've been on vacation for a week, and my tank has been up for two weeks. My skimmer didn't come until after my vacation had begun... During the time of my vacation which I got back from yesterday, my Nitrates climbed to 20. My Acros don't have very good polyp extension, but they are not looking terrible, they just don't look fantastic. Everything else is fine and all other parameters are fine. I do have one Acro that had some damaged flesh when I acquired it before my vacation. It has gotten worse, not too much though. It has never fully extended its polyps though.

I brought the skimmer (SRO-XP5000e) online yesterday afternoon. Total system volume right now is around 230g and the skimmer has pulled a ton of skimmate overnight.

Am I going to have to worry about my Acros making it? Or once my Nitrates are back in check are things likely to be okay?

Thanks for any input!

LOTUS50GOD · 08/10/2011, 08:50 AM

Your tank has only been up for 2 weeks?
Why would you put acros in a tank that is 2 weeks old?

Eel Freak · 08/10/2011, 09:38 AM

I say it's two weeks old since I moved the tank two weeks ago. Before that it had been running for about 18 months. That was bad wording on my part, sorry. When I moved it, I took the opportunity to get a better skimmer, sold my old one, and ordered the XP-5000, various delays later, I got it on vacation rather than the first week after moving.

Eel Freak · 08/10/2011, 09:41 AM

We remodeled the house, so it was a necessary move...

I should mention that I have around 300lbs of LR (100 in display, 200 in cryptic sump) in the tank. I have had it all for several years so it's fully established. The sand-bed as well is.

LOTUS50GOD · 08/10/2011, 10:16 AM

No worries... I have read crazier posts than 'my tank is 2 weeks old and Its filled with SPS' ... LOL...

Anyway.. 20 is not horrible..just do a water change and get it below 10.
Your new skimmer will help when it gets here.
I would also check your phosphate levels. IMO.. phosphates have a bigger effect than nitrates on SPS.

Eel Freak · 08/10/2011, 10:26 AM

Okay, thank you for the suggestion. I'll check PO4 shortly here and I'll do a large water change to get NO3 down less than 10.

And just so it's clear, the skimmer did arrive yesterday and it is currently skimming away. It has filled about half it's collection cup overnight....

djkms · 08/10/2011, 10:28 AM

Lotus please tell me your PO4 is .04 not .4 in your siggy :P

Palting · 08/10/2011, 10:36 AM

A series of water changes should work, and it may take time for it to re-stabilize. Did you re-aquascape, or otherwise move the rocks and substrate when you moved? This would cause a cycle, one reason for your nitrate spike. Check the other basics, too, like nitrite and ammonia, just to be on the safe side.

Eel Freak · 08/10/2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

A series of water changes should work, and it may take time for it to re-stabilize. Did you re-aquascape, or otherwise move the rocks and substrate when you moved? This would cause a cycle, one reason for your nitrate spike. Check the other basics, too, like nitrite and ammonia, just to be on the safe side.

Yeah, it got re-aquascaped. There was no way I could preserve it since the tank is 200g. And yep, substrate too... That's probably what did it.

So far everything else has been unaffected, my Maxima, Derasa, anemones, etc. All the fish are fine, my Montipora sp. are fine, all my Euphyllias are fine, Pocillopora, Wellsophyllia, they all look excellent aside from the three Acros (an Aussie Table, ORA Purple Nana (I think), and an Aussie Stag).

I'll recheck all the basics as well just to be on the safe-side. Thanks for all the help!

08/10/2011, 08:36 AM	#1
Eel Freak Fimbriated Moray Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Space Coast Posts: 830	Nitrates at 20!! I've been on vacation for a week, and my tank has been up for two weeks. My skimmer didn't come until after my vacation had begun... During the time of my vacation which I got back from yesterday, my Nitrates climbed to 20. My Acros don't have very good polyp extension, but they are not looking terrible, they just don't look fantastic. Everything else is fine and all other parameters are fine. I do have one Acro that had some damaged flesh when I acquired it before my vacation. It has gotten worse, not too much though. It has never fully extended its polyps though. I brought the skimmer (SRO-XP5000e) online yesterday afternoon. Total system volume right now is around 230g and the skimmer has pulled a ton of skimmate overnight. Am I going to have to worry about my Acros making it? Or once my Nitrates are back in check are things likely to be okay? Thanks for any input! __________________ I plan to procrastinate. Current Tank Info: 205g Mixed Reef - 3x Radion XR30w Gen 2, twin VorTechs, SRO-XP5000e, 50g estuary, 125g fuge, OM 4-way

08/10/2011, 08:50 AM	#2
LOTUS50GOD Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,210	Your tank has only been up for 2 weeks? Why would you put acros in a tank that is 2 weeks old? __________________ Vertex Alpha 300 Skimmer, AI SOL Blue, Neptune Apex Controlled 360 gallon Reef Current Tank Info: born 6/26/2008- 340 reef + 100 fuge, 300lbs of figi LR

08/10/2011, 09:38 AM	#3
Eel Freak Fimbriated Moray Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Space Coast Posts: 830	I say it's two weeks old since I moved the tank two weeks ago. Before that it had been running for about 18 months. That was bad wording on my part, sorry. When I moved it, I took the opportunity to get a better skimmer, sold my old one, and ordered the XP-5000, various delays later, I got it on vacation rather than the first week after moving. __________________ I plan to procrastinate. Current Tank Info: 205g Mixed Reef - 3x Radion XR30w Gen 2, twin VorTechs, SRO-XP5000e, 50g estuary, 125g fuge, OM 4-way

08/10/2011, 09:41 AM	#4
Eel Freak Fimbriated Moray Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Space Coast Posts: 830	We remodeled the house, so it was a necessary move... I should mention that I have around 300lbs of LR (100 in display, 200 in cryptic sump) in the tank. I have had it all for several years so it's fully established. The sand-bed as well is. __________________ I plan to procrastinate. Current Tank Info: 205g Mixed Reef - 3x Radion XR30w Gen 2, twin VorTechs, SRO-XP5000e, 50g estuary, 125g fuge, OM 4-way

08/10/2011, 10:16 AM	#5
LOTUS50GOD Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,210	No worries... I have read crazier posts than 'my tank is 2 weeks old and Its filled with SPS' ... LOL... Anyway.. 20 is not horrible..just do a water change and get it below 10. Your new skimmer will help when it gets here. I would also check your phosphate levels. IMO.. phosphates have a bigger effect than nitrates on SPS. __________________ Vertex Alpha 300 Skimmer, AI SOL Blue, Neptune Apex Controlled 360 gallon Reef Current Tank Info: born 6/26/2008- 340 reef + 100 fuge, 300lbs of figi LR

08/10/2011, 10:26 AM	#6
Eel Freak Fimbriated Moray Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Space Coast Posts: 830	Okay, thank you for the suggestion. I'll check PO4 shortly here and I'll do a large water change to get NO3 down less than 10. And just so it's clear, the skimmer did arrive yesterday and it is currently skimming away. It has filled about half it's collection cup overnight.... __________________ I plan to procrastinate. Current Tank Info: 205g Mixed Reef - 3x Radion XR30w Gen 2, twin VorTechs, SRO-XP5000e, 50g estuary, 125g fuge, OM 4-way

08/10/2011, 10:28 AM	#7
djkms Fish Freak Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Spring Hill, FL Posts: 1,136	Lotus please tell me your PO4 is .04 not .4 in your siggy :P __________________ Kris - 200 Gallon Baby Reef Current Tank Info: 225 Upgrade Setup 11/17/2012 72x27x27 - Custom 40g sump/Diablo DCS-250int skimmer/Blueline HD40x/2 MP40's/Tunze ATO/2 Part/BRS RODI/ Neptune apex, WXM/3 Radium 250w Galaxy Ballast/8 39w T5's/Litermeter III/Aquavitro Salinity/20%WC/Carbon/GFO/Vinegar

08/10/2011, 10:36 AM	#8
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	A series of water changes should work, and it may take time for it to re-stabilize. Did you re-aquascape, or otherwise move the rocks and substrate when you moved? This would cause a cycle, one reason for your nitrate spike. Check the other basics, too, like nitrite and ammonia, just to be on the safe side. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

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