Nitrate Problem!

susiestank

susiestank

Member
:help: Help! I am having a nitrate problem , it started last week. Ever since my tank got goin in Dec all my levels have been 0's and ph at 8.2 ( after it cycled). Then I had a spurt of a diatom problem, , but all the levels still stayed at zero still. That finally went away and I have none at all now, but as soon as that cleared up my nitrates have been high. Since last week they have been at 20-40. Im worried this will hurt my snails and hermits. I have done 2 changes since last weekend. It helps the first day but then the next day its back to the 20-40. I tested the water I have been using and its at zero. My levels are as follows:
Nitrate : 20-40
Nitrite : 0
Ph : 8.2
Temp : 78-80
Phosphate : 0
Ammonia : 0
Salinity : 1.025
Help! :help: :happyfish
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
just out of curiosity...what type of test for nitrates do you use? Some of them can give false/inaccurate readings.
Also....do you have any fish? Any recent additions? What did you use to establish the initial cycle? did you have a source of ammonia to start the cycle? Your problem could be due to a large number of factors...for now I'd use caution and try to determine the source of the nitrates and work from there.:thinking:
 
S

spike_501

Guest
my nitrates were at 50ppm and snails and crabs were fine, try cleaning out external filters this normally works for me, i bought a nitrate sponge and this works well
 
jedi

jedi

Member
What type of filtration?
Skimmer?
How often do you do water change?
20-40ppm is high, and will eventually be harmfull to the fish. I wouldn't worry to much about the crabs, snails, etc. They are preety durable.
Jedi
 
trainfever

trainfever

Active Member
When you test for nitrates, are you shaking bottle #2 really well? I was getting false readings with my nitrates and it turned out that I wasn't shaking bottle #2 good enough. You have to mix #2 very well. I mean shaking it in the bottle before you put the drops in, not in the vial.
 
susiestank

susiestank

Member
Update: They havent gone down any , after trying many things. But after much reading I have realized it may be the ugf I have. I wish i would of known what a paiin they are , but i got the set up as a gift. For you who asked if I have a skimmer I just got it last week and havent put it up yet.
This weekend I am taking everything out , putting in tank/rubbermaids and getting that damn ugf out. I have one fish and some inverts. I figure now is time if i want it out before I add more stuff. Also since I am ripping it all apart I am going to just add the remaining lr I want to add. I will leave my clown in the "tank" rubbermaid with powerhead,heater, etc until I see if the tnak will have another mini cycle. Any one any thoughts?
 
susiestank

susiestank

Member
Nah I dont have CC i didnt make that mistake but i did make a mistake with the ugf , but atleast i caught it now , not later. I hope my fish will deal with the change and all.
 
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