Nitrates won't drop...

theoneyouenvy

theoneyouenvy

Member
I have a 34G with 25 lbs of LR and 20 lbs of sand. The tank will be 2 weeks old this Wednesday, and all levels are where they should (8.2, pH, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites) be except nitrates which is around 20-40. I did a 10% water change 2 days ago and it didn't seem to change the level that much, dropped a little bit. I had quite a bit of green algae in the last day.
Not sure if this is a normal part of cycling, but the levels have held constant for the last week.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
Sounds normal it should start to fall off in the next week if not then have it checked with a different test kit.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneYouEnvy http:///t/393121/nitrates-wont-drop#post_3494847
I have a 34G with 25 lbs of LR and 20 lbs of sand. The tank will be 2 weeks old this Wednesday, and all levels are where they should (8.2, pH, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites) be except nitrates which is around 20-40. I did a 10% water change 2 days ago and it didn't seem to change the level that much, dropped a little bit. I had quite a bit of green algae in the last day.
Not sure if this is a normal part of cycling, but the levels have held constant for the last week.
plant life like algae (corraline) on the live rocks will do exactly that. What happens is the algae consumes the ammonia directly and not the nitrates. So an initial nitrate spike can happen. Then as aerobic bacteria builds up and consumes the ammonia, the algae is forced to get its nitrogen from the nitrates.
my .02
 
S

saxman

Guest
Beaslbob is right on.
Another thing to consider is that your tank is super new, and hasn't even CONSIDERED settling down yet. Don't be surprised if some of your levels bounce around a bit as it matures. Give the tank a good 6 mos or so before you expect much in the way of stability.
 
S

saxman

Guest
Nitrates won't drop on their own in most systems unless you have a REALLY good ANAEROBIC biofilter. This is why we perform water changes.
What you need to do is give the tank a "ghost feeding" and see how long it takes to process the ammonia. You should feed the tank the same amount that you'd feed whatever fish you plan to get (I wouldn't put anything that's much a a bioload in it at this point, or anything you really care about).
Two weeks is pretty raw for a tank, but if the LR you used was fully cured, the tank may have "short-cycled". You are about 10# light on the LR from the norm, but the proof is in challenging your system.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneYouEnvy http:///t/393121/nitrates-wont-drop#post_3495005
So do you think it is fine to add a fish yet? Or should I wait for the nitrates to drop a bit more?
I would add some macro algaes like chaetomorphia just to be sure.
And as a test I recommend you try a male molly from your lfs. If the tank does not have enough algae to consume the molly's ammonia it is better to lose a $2 fish then a $30 marine only fish.
my .02
 
theoneyouenvy

theoneyouenvy

Member
There is a bit of algae, it looks like string algae. I am also starting to get the pinkish red stuff on the sand and some of the LR(is that good?). The nitrates dropped a bit and are at 5-10.
 
S

siptang

Guest
Those red things are callee cyano bacteria. Not a good thing blow on it with a power head and brush the rock and syphon the sand.
 
S

siptang

Guest
Not enough flow and too much nutrients. Take them all out and do a water change then add a power head to add more flow.
 
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