Nitrates

[fish1031]

I had very little sand... no LR... no skimmer... and a grouper in my 29g tank... I probably did overfeed him and he was a pig...
I decided to go reef and ordered new lighting... LR... skimmer... more live sand... powerheads
I cleaned the tank and filter on monday when I took my grouper out... I added the live rock on tuesday (50lbs from this site) premium fiji- looks great!
the skimmer and sand came today I will put that on tonight
the lights have not even come yet. I am also looking into a Ro/DI unit.
Do you think I should do like a 50% water change to lower my nitrates which are at 40 or will the go down with the new rock in time?

 

[dmjordan]

i would only do a water change during the nitrogen cycle if the ammonia got to 1.0. otherwise let the tank complete its cycle before doing a water change.

 

[reefforbrains]

50lbs of rock in a 29g should wipe a piddley 40ppm trate to 0 overnight.
Your rock will naturally have to cure and have some die off from shipping. Once its cycled you will be in awe of how much a good biological system han handle.

 

[fish1031]

the tank has been set up and was cycled nitite and am are 0

 

[poniegirl]

What is being said is that the addition of the LR and LS could cause a cycle, as the die off happens from your new live rock.
A grouper is a pretty big fish isn't he? In a 29 in may be that even if you didn't overfeed, he could keep the nitrates up.
40 is on the high end, but not great cause for alarm.
I would keep an eye one the ammonia and nitrites for a while, just to be safe, and yes, in a tank that is not cycling, water changes will control the nitrates.

 

[fish1031]

yeah they are big... this one was only about 4in. but he kept the nitrates up for sure. thanks

 

[fish1031]

parameters- 5/13/07
temp- 79.5-80.5
sg- 1.026
am- 0
trite- .25 (looks like it did a little cycle)
trate- 30s
ph- 8.2
dKH- 8.6
calcium- 460

 

[fish1031]

same today

 

[fish1031]

when should they start diminishing?

 

[poniegirl]

What water changes have you done?

 

[fish1031]

i've done 2... about 5gallons... 29g tank

 

[fish1031]

nitrates are at 20... can I move my clown fish... they are at 25 in the tank he is in now.
thx

 

[ophiura]

Nitrates, IMO, are not much of an issue with fish. I would do more changes before adding any sort of more delicate invertebrates (corals or similar).