My water levels..

[disco bay jn]

A few days ago, my trites jumped up after I added my first three fish to my 180g tank with 200#LR and 100#s of LS. I did 2 10% water changes, over a 2 day period. Now my trites are at 0 my Amonia is at 0 and my trates are at 10. Will the trates drop down on there own? Or should I do more water changes? Thanks again for everyones help! This is a great hobby.

 

[meleerock]

Sounds like your tank did a little spike when you added your fish. Your levels seem to be good now. If the only reading you are getting is your trates at 10 then you are fine.

 

[psusocr1]

did you cycle your tank before adding fish?
also you should add as a general rule of thumb about a fish every 2 weeks do that your live rock,live sand etc. etc can compensate the bioload over time.. three fish at a time will spiek your levels,, im actualyl suprised it was only your nitrates you would usualy get ammonia and trites along witht hat so you got lucky

 

[disco bay jn]

So I should just wait it out?

 

[aztec reef]

no it may not drop on its own, but the only thing you can do is waterchanges. 10 is not leathel so you'll be fine just don't let the trates go any higher. just keep up with the water changes :happyfish

 

[disco bay jn]

I don't think that 2 small percula's and a small naso tang is too much to add to a cycled, cleanup crew added, 180g. My next fish I will purchase this weekend, and straight to the QT tank it goes. I'll keep it there for another three weeks, then on to the next one. I suspect my levels will increase slightly on each new fish arrival into my DT, correct? How often should I do water changes, aproximately, for my 180g, 10g every three days?? Thats what I have been doing. Seems to be working all right so far. Or should wait longer between water changes?

 

[aztec reef]

your tank is a 180g you shouldn't have to make so often of waterchanges. once a week is fine. if it was my tank i would do 20g a week water change. defenitly you may or may not see a rise in levels everytime you add a fish, it all depends on how much you add and how well your tank is handling the bioload :happyfish

 

[disco bay jn]

Cool, thats why I got such a big tank, to make it easier to maintain, levels wise that is! Talk to you all soon, thanks for the help.