HELP! My nitrates are on the rise!!

lolly1

lolly1

Member
Hello everyone,
My tank is now a little over a month old. My nitrates had been relatively steady at 15 for a couple of weeks (about 3 actually). I was hoping to soon add my first fish and tonight I brought a sample in to my lfs to have them run a test. My nitrates are suddenly up to 40!!! How could this have happened and what do I do about it?? Everything else was at 0 and the pH was 8.2.
I have a 55 gallon tank with 20 pounds of live sand, 40 pounds of regular sand, about 7 pounds of rubble, approximately 25 pounds of live rock and probably about an equal amount of base rock. The only creatures I have in there right now are 2 astria snails (4 have died), one emerald crab, and 12 hermits.
The guy at the lfs told me to thin out my sand bed to about 3/4 inch. Right now it is at about 1 1/2". Should I take his advice? Will this cause an ammonia spike? Are there any other ways to get those nitrates out of there? Frequent water changes? More clean-up crew? I'm a little discouraged!
Also...I just recently added two very large pieces of base rock. To add them, I had to do some serious rearranging of my live rock. Could this have "stirred up" the nitrates from the substrate into the water??
Help is appreciated.
Beth ***)
 
mcsd22

mcsd22

Member
Beth, your nitrates can be uo due to the cycle coming to an end in your tank. I would do a few water changes to bring it down and you should be fine. Get yourself a test kit if you dont have 1 so you can monitor whats going on and don't get discouraged you will be fine. Keep asking questions and when you get the trates down think about your first fish. Good luck.
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
did you test the water when you got back home?What did you're test read? Was it the same? Wondering if you're test or theirs might be off. Do a water change. Yes the new rock could have caused a rise but as long as you can get it down to 20 or lower you can add most fish. Then keep doing water changes and monitering. To get it down lower. I think,(what ive heard)that yopur sand bed is fine. I would't stir it. Or remove any.
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
Hi Beth,
I had some new responses regarding the cool candy canes you brought this weekend, and I put a plug in on one of my responses for people to find this thread...lots of traffic. So far it looks like what we talked about, don't you think?
Good luck with it. I'm here when you need me.
Lisa :happyfish
 
lolly1

lolly1

Member
Thanks Mom for the plug!
I just did a test with my kit and my reading says closer to 20! That is still up from what it was and still higher than I would like...but it certainly isn't 40!
Ok...so my plan of action will be to do about bi-weekly water changes for the next couple of weeks and cross my fingers that it goes down? Does that sound like my best bet? I really really want those darn nitrates to just disappear!

Beth ***)
 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
you could also try getting a refuge if you dont already, and get some nice macroalgae in there, and xenia helps, or is supposed to as well...my pulsing xenia and cheato have helped my nitrates a ton! just another possibility if water changes wont do it...cant remember if it has been said, but you could also test your new water going in to make sure it doesnt have nitrates as well...good luck and let us know how it turns out! looks like you and your mom have some sweet setups going!
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bronco300
you could also try getting a refuge if you dont already, and get some nice macroalgae in there, and xenia helps, or is supposed to as well...my pulsing xenia and cheato have helped my nitrates a ton! just another possibility if water changes wont do it...cant remember if it has been said, but you could also test your new water going in to make sure it doesnt have nitrates as well...good luck and let us know how it turns out! looks like you and your mom have some sweet setups going!

This is really true, now that it's been brought up!! My 'trates didn't really stabilize completely until I threw that handful of chaeto into the tank!! Worth a try...also, let's see, who do we know that may have some xenias...hmmmm :thinking:
Lisa :happyfish
 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
haha, that must mean that you have xenia? lucky her!! there are other things as well like shaving brushes that help with nitrates i believe....i'm nto sure if this does, but my tank all of a sudden started growing cactus...who knows, but its cool looking!
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bronco300
haha, that must mean that you have xenia? lucky her!! there are other things as well like shaving brushes that help with nitrates i believe....i'm nto sure if this does, but my tank all of a sudden started growing cactus...who knows, but its cool looking!
Yeah, I have some xenias, and if we decide that's what she needs, we'll probably be posting a "fragging xenias" thread. I've never fragged anything before, but my xenia has been in the tank for approximately 2-3 months and has already grown 2 more stalks...I think I can spare some for Beth :hilarious
This site rocks!!
Lisa :happyfish
 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
haha, xenia will be the easiest thing you have ever fragged!!! i love em, and they are nice saltwater income makers
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bronco300
haha, xenia will be the easiest thing you have ever fragged!!! i love em, and they are nice saltwater income makers

Not to mention they're beneficial and just really cool!!
Lisa :happyfish
 
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