High Nitrates in newly established Aquarium

mrbouchey · 10/18/2011, 12:42 PM

75 Gallon FOWLR; moved 3 weeks ago, saved 50% of established water. All parameters 0 except Nitrate. Nitrate has been high ever since we moved it. The crushed coral was disturbed during transport (suspect this is the reason). Cleaned and replaced all filter media in sump. Added (2) socks with Nitrate Sponge, have Purigen in overflow box. Have Phospahte, Carbon, and Poly in sump. Bio-Balls slightly cleaned after transport and put back in sump. Skimmer running partially wet, dark green, some brown. 3 power heads, no apparent dead spots. 5 Green Chromis, 2 Spotted Cardial, 2 Kauderns Cardinals, 1 Cleaner Shrimp, 8 blue leg crabs, 4 turbo snails. Performed 25% water change 2 days ago, 10% today, plan on 10% PWC every two days. Added Prime to detoxify tank and added to new water. Nitrates remain at 80 or slightly above. What am I doing wrong or not doing? Reccomendations please? I suspect that the disturbance of crushed coral during the move is the cause? Or hasn't the tank completely cycled? I'm a newbie, so be easy !

namxas · 10/18/2011, 02:04 PM

Have you vacuumed the CC out? If not, that's a good place to start. My other thought would be that there was some dieoff on your LR, but I'd expect to see NH3 and NO2 spikes before the NO3, so that's suggesting it's the cr@p in your CC.

jwm2k3 · 10/18/2011, 05:22 PM

With Bio-balls AND crushed coral as a substrate this tank will be a nitrate factory. Keep up with the water changes and vac the CC often to lessen the amount of junk collecting. Good luck, with good maint. you can succeed, just dont slack...or overfeed.

TropTrea · 10/18/2011, 05:28 PM

Some times just moving things around takes you back to just about day one with your cycling. As others say keep the water changes going and continue to measure your water perameters. It is not bad to actualy record them on a spread sheet so you can see the cycling and predict when things will get closer to normal. Trying to rush things I find usualy just makes things worst than they were before.

TropTrea · 10/18/2011, 08:33 PM

Some times just moving things around takes you back to just about day one with your cycling. As others say keep the water changes going and continue to measure your water perameters. It is not bad to actualy record them on a spread sheet so you can see the cycling and predict when things will get closer to normal. Trying to rush things I find it usualy just makes things worst than they were before.

davidgnome · 11/06/2011, 07:06 PM

I could be wrong but ive read that 80ppm isnt really gonna do much..idealy you would like it at 10 but 80ish isnt bad..correct me if im wrong..but thats what ive read as ive been learning as well

OSTguy · 11/06/2011, 07:27 PM

Get rid of the snails and never look at nitrates again with that stocklist.....within reason. I do 3 to 4 massive 200 gallon water changes on a 330 gallon system a year.

10/18/2011, 12:42 PM	#1
mrbouchey Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Fishers, IN Posts: 1	High Nitrates in newly established Aquarium 75 Gallon FOWLR; moved 3 weeks ago, saved 50% of established water. All parameters 0 except Nitrate. Nitrate has been high ever since we moved it. The crushed coral was disturbed during transport (suspect this is the reason). Cleaned and replaced all filter media in sump. Added (2) socks with Nitrate Sponge, have Purigen in overflow box. Have Phospahte, Carbon, and Poly in sump. Bio-Balls slightly cleaned after transport and put back in sump. Skimmer running partially wet, dark green, some brown. 3 power heads, no apparent dead spots. 5 Green Chromis, 2 Spotted Cardial, 2 Kauderns Cardinals, 1 Cleaner Shrimp, 8 blue leg crabs, 4 turbo snails. Performed 25% water change 2 days ago, 10% today, plan on 10% PWC every two days. Added Prime to detoxify tank and added to new water. Nitrates remain at 80 or slightly above. What am I doing wrong or not doing? Reccomendations please? I suspect that the disturbance of crushed coral during the move is the cause? Or hasn't the tank completely cycled? I'm a newbie, so be easy !

10/18/2011, 02:04 PM	#2
namxas Things With Stings R Us! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Carson, CA Posts: 5,087	Have you vacuumed the CC out? If not, that's a good place to start. My other thought would be that there was some dieoff on your LR, but I'd expect to see NH3 and NO2 spikes before the NO3, so that's suggesting it's the cr@p in your CC. __________________ Greg Current Tank Info: too many to describe, but i think the count is up to "lucky 13"!

10/18/2011, 05:28 PM	#4
TropTrea Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: SE Suburbia Wisconsin Posts: 2,910	Some times just moving things around takes you back to just about day one with your cycling. As others say keep the water changes going and continue to measure your water perameters. It is not bad to actualy record them on a spread sheet so you can see the cycling and predict when things will get closer to normal. Trying to rush things I find usualy just makes things worst than they were before. __________________ Dennis B. Current Tank Info: Main tank 120 Gallon, 432 Watts T-5's plus 30 Watts of LED's, Frag 40 Gallon tank 234 Watts T-5's, 3 Frag tanks all 40 Gallon with LED lighting between 60 and 84 Watts. All LEDs are DIY Oh and then there is fresh water tanks 270 gallons

10/18/2011, 08:33 PM	#5
TropTrea Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: SE Suburbia Wisconsin Posts: 2,910	Some times just moving things around takes you back to just about day one with your cycling. As others say keep the water changes going and continue to measure your water perameters. It is not bad to actualy record them on a spread sheet so you can see the cycling and predict when things will get closer to normal. Trying to rush things I find it usualy just makes things worst than they were before. __________________ Dennis B. Current Tank Info: Main tank 120 Gallon, 432 Watts T-5's plus 30 Watts of LED's, Frag 40 Gallon tank 234 Watts T-5's, 3 Frag tanks all 40 Gallon with LED lighting between 60 and 84 Watts. All LEDs are DIY Oh and then there is fresh water tanks 270 gallons

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10/18/2011, 05:22 PM	#3
jwm2k3 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston Posts: 1,655	With Bio-balls AND crushed coral as a substrate this tank will be a nitrate factory. Keep up with the water changes and vac the CC often to lessen the amount of junk collecting. Good luck, with good maint. you can succeed, just dont slack...or overfeed.

11/06/2011, 07:06 PM	#6
davidgnome Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 180	I could be wrong but ive read that 80ppm isnt really gonna do much..idealy you would like it at 10 but 80ish isnt bad..correct me if im wrong..but thats what ive read as ive been learning as well

11/06/2011, 07:27 PM	#7
OSTguy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: 95747 Posts: 319	Get rid of the snails and never look at nitrates again with that stocklist.....within reason. I do 3 to 4 massive 200 gallon water changes on a 330 gallon system a year.