High nitrate levels - Dead star fish?

wBRODEY · 04/27/2006, 08:07 PM

Thank you to anyone who can offer me some advice. Irecent consolidated a 29 gallon tank into 2 other tanks. I put all the fish (Maroon clown, 2 bubble tip anenomes, Kole tang and various invertebrates to my new 210 gallon. All corals and linkia star went into my 47 gallon that is about 10 months established. I took a nitrate test tonight - and it is very high. I noticed the one linkia star is done - I am assuming, as one leg is off and it looks as though it is decomposing. Could this be a direct cause and effect to Nitrates and should I get it out ASAP? or is a water change the best remedy?
Thanks
Wyny

taku · 04/27/2006, 08:15 PM

It would explain the high nitrate levels... but let me ask, did you get a baseline nitrate sample prior to adding the newbies to the 47 gallon? Maybe the nitrates were high prior to their addition? But 47 gallons isn't huge so if something that large is dead I'd remove it. Especially if it looks like it's decoomposing.. are there hermits and worms trying to eat it?

wBRODEY · 04/27/2006, 08:23 PM

unfortunately I have had a few reading of the nitrate levels that were somewhat off. My local store did one about 10 days ago and said it was high. I had it done again a few days later by someone else at the store, who said it was fine. Due to the fact that I have a new 210 - i check levels every day myself. The nitrate level in the 47 gallon compared to the 210 was vastly different (color scheme wise)
I have lots of hermits, turbo snails etc. I also have a linkia that was in this tank from the beginning that is still doing great.
Nothing seems to be eating at the "dead" starfish as far as I can tell.
I guess I should remove it right??
I appreciate any advice!!
Thanks!
Wyny

Gary Majchrzak · 04/27/2006, 08:49 PM

IME a dead star can cause a spike in nitrates and perhaps even an outbreak of cyanobacteria.
wBRODEY you have a PM.

04/27/2006, 08:07 PM	#1
wBRODEY Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 44	High nitrate levels - Dead star fish? Thank you to anyone who can offer me some advice. Irecent consolidated a 29 gallon tank into 2 other tanks. I put all the fish (Maroon clown, 2 bubble tip anenomes, Kole tang and various invertebrates to my new 210 gallon. All corals and linkia star went into my 47 gallon that is about 10 months established. I took a nitrate test tonight - and it is very high. I noticed the one linkia star is done - I am assuming, as one leg is off and it looks as though it is decomposing. Could this be a direct cause and effect to Nitrates and should I get it out ASAP? or is a water change the best remedy? Thanks Wyny __________________ Wyny Staples Brodey Current Tank Info: 210 reef tank, 90 g. refug., 47 gallon reef, 25g. seahorse pipefish, 10 g. quarantine, 25 g. coral prop.tank

04/27/2006, 08:23 PM	#3
wBRODEY Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 44	unfortunately I have had a few reading of the nitrate levels that were somewhat off. My local store did one about 10 days ago and said it was high. I had it done again a few days later by someone else at the store, who said it was fine. Due to the fact that I have a new 210 - i check levels every day myself. The nitrate level in the 47 gallon compared to the 210 was vastly different (color scheme wise) I have lots of hermits, turbo snails etc. I also have a linkia that was in this tank from the beginning that is still doing great. Nothing seems to be eating at the "dead" starfish as far as I can tell. I guess I should remove it right?? I appreciate any advice!! Thanks! Wyny __________________ Wyny Staples Brodey Current Tank Info: 210 reef tank, 90 g. refug., 47 gallon reef, 25g. seahorse pipefish, 10 g. quarantine, 25 g. coral prop.tank

04/27/2006, 08:49 PM	#4
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	IME a dead star can cause a spike in nitrates and perhaps even an outbreak of cyanobacteria. wBRODEY you have a PM. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

04/27/2006, 08:15 PM	#2
taku Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Orlando. FL Posts: 536	It would explain the high nitrate levels... but let me ask, did you get a baseline nitrate sample prior to adding the newbies to the 47 gallon? Maybe the nitrates were high prior to their addition? But 47 gallons isn't huge so if something that large is dead I'd remove it. Especially if it looks like it's decoomposing.. are there hermits and worms trying to eat it?