An Enigma....

mookie

mookie

New Member
My tank has been cycling with 20 lbs of Figi LR, 30 lbs of Carib Sea Aragonite Sea Floor Special Grade Reef Sand and 5 Green Chromis for 4 weeks now with twice a week with levels moving in the right direction. About 3 weeks into the cycle I got the brown algae but I came and now it's gone. As of Sunday night, my readings were PH 8.2, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20 and temp 78. I was just about to return the 5 Chromis and purchase the Big Bonus +1 Clean Up Crew form SWF.com......Last night my levels spiked...Ammonia 2, Nitrite 2, and Nitrate 60, PH remained stable at 8.2......My equipment is as follows:
1. 55G
2. CPR 900 W/D Filter with CS 90 Overflow
3. CPR SR2 Protein Skimmer
4. 2 Penguin 550 Power Heads
I have read you should not perform any water changes until the tank has cycled--I was damn near close....How do I stablize my levels??
Thanks a million!
 
fender

fender

Active Member
I would say that you were probably done cycling but that something in/on your rock finally died and that is why ammonia spiked. I would say you could probably be ok with a water change, but until the ammonia goes down, I wouldn't add anything to the tank.
Look for anything on your rock that is black or white or appears to be rotting. Smell your rock, it should smell like the ocean, not your garbage can.
[ August 21, 2001: Message edited by: fender ]
 
oceanblue

oceanblue

Member
Mookie,
that is a little strange to have a spike like that..but like he said above, it could be something that died off since you tested it last. On the other hand, did you retest the water? I've gotten bad readings from test kits alot, something wasn't washed out of the tube or something I rekon, retested twice more and booted the oddball. Could something have gotten in the tank chemically? is it by the kitchen or window? I may seem to be repeating the obvious, but location is a cardinal rule and like spreading any gospel, you can't assume everyone has heard it. Did you treat the water with anything? let us know! Dave
 
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