Help! Cycled tank. High nitrates.

Smoke Reefer · 10/07/2014, 07:01 PM

What's up everyone. Question for you maybe you can help me. I set up a tank a while ago but didn't ever think it cycled so u just let it alone. It had flow and a filter running the whole time, no heater. Well now I'm in a bind and need a tank and I just checked and I guess it did cycle but my nitrates are through the roof. Like 160 ppm. Nitrites 0. Ammonia 0. Can I use this tank? If I do a water change? image.jpg
Thanks a bunch!

pyithar · 10/07/2014, 07:16 PM

i noticed the water level is low in the photo. did you forget to top off with fresh water? in that case check the salinity. do water changes then test ammonia/nitrtite/nitrate by using good test kits.

Smoke Reefer · 10/07/2014, 07:27 PM

Thanks a lot Pyithar, I will check that.

Also, I set this tank up the at the same time I did my main tank and I never say algae blooms and diatoms like I did in my main. Any reason why?

thegrun · 10/07/2014, 07:33 PM

Do a 100% water change and you should be good. How long has it been sitting?

Smoke Reefer · 10/07/2014, 07:44 PM

Thegrun, It's been sitting with no attention since august 29th I think. So a month and a week? Maybe a few days longer?

thegrun · 10/08/2014, 07:03 AM

You should be fine then. Add your livestock very slowly (1 fish, wait a week, then add another...) since the bacteria population is likely small from a lack of food.

10/07/2014, 07:01 PM	#1
Smoke Reefer Registered Member. Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Springfield, Va Posts: 30	Help! Cycled tank. High nitrates. What's up everyone. Question for you maybe you can help me. I set up a tank a while ago but didn't ever think it cycled so u just let it alone. It had flow and a filter running the whole time, no heater. Well now I'm in a bind and need a tank and I just checked and I guess it did cycle but my nitrates are through the roof. Like 160 ppm. Nitrites 0. Ammonia 0. Can I use this tank? If I do a water change? image.jpg Thanks a bunch!

10/07/2014, 07:16 PM	#2
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	i noticed the water level is low in the photo. did you forget to top off with fresh water? in that case check the salinity. do water changes then test ammonia/nitrtite/nitrate by using good test kits. __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

10/07/2014, 07:27 PM	#3
Smoke Reefer Registered Member. Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Springfield, Va Posts: 30	Thanks a lot Pyithar, I will check that. Also, I set this tank up the at the same time I did my main tank and I never say algae blooms and diatoms like I did in my main. Any reason why?

10/07/2014, 07:33 PM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Do a 100% water change and you should be good. How long has it been sitting?

10/07/2014, 07:44 PM	#5
Smoke Reefer Registered Member. Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Springfield, Va Posts: 30	Thegrun, It's been sitting with no attention since august 29th I think. So a month and a week? Maybe a few days longer?

10/08/2014, 07:03 AM	#6
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	You should be fine then. Add your livestock very slowly (1 fish, wait a week, then add another...) since the bacteria population is likely small from a lack of food.