nitrate rise HELP/ADVICE!

oneradtek

oneradtek

Active Member
i moved over my 55 gallon reef tank to a 75 gallon tank when i moved across town about a month ago. (15 min away) My 55 gal reef was created with non ro-di water at the time and in return got the phosphates and the nitrates slowly but surely, nothing too crazy though. maybe 5 ppm of nitrates at most.
at the time of the swap i bought more "live rock" which was a bad decision because it smelled foul and im pretty sure it wasn't cured fully. (30lbs) I moved everything over into my new 75 gallon tank, taking as much of my old water as possible. ever since i moved into my new 75 gallon reef for about a month, which i am NOW using RO/DI water, and done MANY water changes, my levels are as is.
82 f
1.024 sal
21-22 ppm calcium
0 phosphates ( according to API, which im not convinced)
10ppm nitrates
0ppm nitrite
0ppm ammonia
7ppm dkh
8.2 ph
I am getting mats of red slime algae on my sands in certain areas and some slime on my rocks. not to mention red valonia on some rocks.
Is this just a phase because of the uncured rock/move or what!? i have a newly added 29 gal sump with aqua medic t-1000 skimmer , my sea clone skimmer still on it, my emperor 330 to keep the mechanical filtration going too. also i have 2x rio power heads for more flow
80-90lbs Live rock
80 lbs sand
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
Is this just a phase because of the uncured rock/move or what? I think it will go away. I use the API phosphate test, it is good enough for a pos/neg read.
 
forsfed50

forsfed50

Member
uncured live rock may have some die off. That doesnt help and did the protein skimmer have any media that was allowed enough time off to kill existing bacteria? The only real thing to do when in doubt is water change, water change, water change. I wouldnt change more than every other day though unless it becomes really high. If becomes too high increase percentage to help prevent any losses. You didnt mention what your present pets are if any. If I am wrong about anything someone else help as I am what I consider still a novice.
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
increase the flow and keep up the waterchanges. adding the uncured rock, introduced alot of nutrients to the tank. more than the existing bacteria could handle most likely.
keep vacuuming out the cyano as you do your waterchanges. it will subside.
 
thauro77

thauro77

Member
Have you tried to set up the "mega powerful nitrate remover" look for the thread on reef discussion. I have it and in three weeks the nitrates and phosphates are gone. An it cost me only $30 to set up!!!!
 
oneradtek

oneradtek

Active Member
went to take a pic, but my camera died haha, gotta charge the battery
i was just lookin at some pics and i think its a form of diatom, but maybe its getting stringy because of it dying off? it has some bubbles coming from it
 
oneradtek

oneradtek

Active Member
k so ive been doing water changes every other day (5 gal) and i seem to be getting nowhere, not going up or down in the amount of nitrates of phosphates. idk what to do here? ive been feeding once a day and i just cut back my lighting by a few hours, to help with cyano
any other ideas?
 
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