adding new fish But nitrate still 20

[Ricky1066]

Ok I read that a reading of20 is not that bad Then I have read it is not. I got myself some chaeto does not sem to be helping I cleaned the sock . But still reading 20 . The fish look fine

I went out today and got 3 cardinals silver ones 1 blenny (looks like a serpent algae one) and 12 red legged hermit crabs
That is added to my clown fish and my Flaming Angel and I am done for a while all I want now is a 2 cleaner shrimp/

All my readings are good all the fish are eating I feel bad they seem to charge across the tank for an air bubble .Makes me think they are starving. So I give them one cube of Frozen brine shrimp Is that enough.It seems that the clown gobbles all the food The other fish get some but the clown gets most.

Am i supposed to feed anything else to the hermits ,Blennys or snail ? The lfs did not say.

[mdbv25]

You have to give the Chaeto some time to work.... If your readings are high I would've waited till they were lower before adding more fish... more than one that is. Keep an eye on your parameters for the next few days,

the hermits will eat what's off the rocks/sand etc.... take it slow and keep an eye on feeding as well, you don' want to feed to much with high readings.

[woogy]

nitrates are not going to hurt the fish...believe me my nitrates are about 50ppm and it doesn't bother them one bit...I have an urchin which they state are sensitive to nitrates but he is a monster!...only lost about 1 quill on him since I got him 3 years ago

btw snails help with algae and the waste (certain ones)...hermits will usually eat anything they can get their claws on...not sure about the blenny

[mdbv25]

Originally posted by woogy
nitrates are not going to hurt the fish...believe me my nitrates are about 50ppm and it doesn't bother them one bit...I have an urchin which they state are sensitive to nitrates but he is a monster!...only lost about 1 quill on him since I got him 3 years ago

btw snails help with algae and the waste (certain ones)...hermits will usually eat anything they can get their claws on...not sure about the blenny

I thought high nitrates don't hurt the fish that are already in the system?..... I would not take a chance on putting say a wrasse or any other delicate fish in a system that has high nitrates

Would you put an expensive fish in your tank? (Just asking)

[dileggi]

Nitrates at 20 will not harm the fish, and you'll probably even be ok with most inverts/corals. The fish would probably be Ok if the nitrates even climbed to 40, as long as the new fish are acclimated correctly.

The inverts (corals included) are more sensitive to it. My nitrates have been between 10-20 forever and I've had no problems at all...except for algae blooms

[BurntOutReefer]

nitrates at even 50ppm aren't that bad.....but try to keep at 20 or below (10% weekly water changes my friend)

[ahullsb]

Still though. Try to get the the source of your nitrates. Water changes will help. How long has the tank been setup? Oh and you don't need to feed the crabs, shrimp anything. They will scavenge, and in my experience cleaner shrimp are quicker to get food than a lot of my fish.

[mdbv25]

I think alot of people don't acclimate properly.... I know my nitrates were high a few times but I had existing fish...

good to know, I won't worry so much in the future...

[Aquarist007]

Your tank has been setup not long ago and is still cycling--you are really rushing it
I just hope you don't have a tank crash

A good slow pace would be
week 5 and 6 add your clean up crew
weeks 7 and 8 add some hardy corals
after that add a fish a week giving time for the live rock to take care of their bioload

[Ricky1066]

THanks Captn But I told you I paid extra money for fully cured rock live sand and water from established tanks just so I did not have to wait the full 6 weeks ..

I knoiw I rush alittle but now I am done let it build now. I am still trying to get rid of that gurgling noise in the hob overlfow it is so annoying

[dileggi]

Originally posted by Ricky1066
THanks Captn But I told you I paid extra money for fully cured rock live sand and water from established tanks just so I did not have to wait the full 6 weeks ..

I knoiw I rush alittle but now I am done let it build now. I am still trying to get rid of that gurgling noise in the hob overlfow it is so annoying

I could be wrong, but I looked into taking that route. From what I was told, unless the rock, sand and water came from the exact same tank, there would still be a cycle as they all acclimated to one another.

Also, I was told there was no way to avoid a cycle, even if it's just a small one when dealing with the sand, because any disturbance to the sand bed would cause somewhat of a cycle. It was suggested to me, to make sure the LR and water came from the same tank and to NOT use live sand, but to let the rock seed the sand. By not using LS, I was told that woud offset the cycle that the Live Sand would cause.

I'm not sure how true that all is. I decided to play it safe and not take that route.

[Ricky1066]

Wellto be 100% honest the live sand was ina bag Caribe and the rock was from the lfs as I said he probably jerked me but it is past that.
My test kit showed amonia got to .050 a few times and back down Nitrates have been on 20 but I beleive it could be tap water.

I am done adding I added a little quick but I am hoping it works out Not looking to add nothing else except two cleaner shrimp .

[dileggi]

Originally posted by Ricky1066
Wellto be 100% honest the live sand was ina bag Caribe and the rock was from the lfs as I said he probably jerked me but it is past that.
My test kit showed amonia got to .050 a few times and back down Nitrates have been on 20 but I beleive it could be tap water.

I am done adding I added a little quick but I am hoping it works out Not looking to add nothing else except two cleaner shrimp .

It's quite possible the nitrate reading was from the tap. I had started with tap as well. I didn't switch to ro/di until about 1-2 months in and that's when my nitrates started dropping...slowly..but they started dropping below 20.

[Aquarist007]

I would tend to believe the nitrate level is indication that the tank is still cycling
I realize that nitrate level won't hurt anything but ---

if it does indicate the tank is still cycling then the bacteria have not cycled long enough to handle. a big increase in bioload that you would be doing by adding all those fish etc too soon

We all have done it and payed the price for not curbing our enthusiasm and waiting just a little longer---just cautioning you to analze the signs you have in front of you--and definetly not trying to tell you what to do.

[bngowe]

The best way to lower nitrates is to do a water change.

you can also try mangroves in your sump. if you're interested in getting a few PM me.

[Ricky1066]

Capyn you are dileg have been the ones who I get constant advice from I do not take it as that you are telling me what to do.

I will say that the lfs as I mentioned could have bull****ted me when they said using everything live is a faster route But again I did want to add someting as we all did I am sure.
I am hoping that it will be ok time will tell and I thak you for the advice as always

Now as far as my sump I was told to be a deep sand bed in there Should I It is a small sump I would say maybe 20 gallon as you may remember I changed it from wet dry to sump?