Three year old tank 2 year old problem

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tizzo

Guest

Originally posted by Archie
I actually added some Kent Marine Supperbuffer-dKH the other day, this is the first time that I have added in quite a while though.
That may explain your alk level. That stuff raises it, unless you know where it SHOULD be and where it's AT, don't add it!!
 
archie

archie

Member
I purchased the Reef Bone and Live Rock at my LFS. Apparently the reef bone is something like base rock but is white. I think it is dead coral. Also I have been adding Essential Elements, Iodine and Liquid calcium. I have been adding them each about once per week exept the Liquid Calcuim which I add almost every day.
 
archie

archie

Member
So do you think the tank is cycling? I do have bubbles coming from the sand. Should I do a large water change, if so, how large?
Thanks again for all of you help.
 
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tizzo

Guest
Do a couple of 20% changes. STOP adding all those additives!!
If your params are at 0 I don't figure it's cycling again. Do you add any suspension foods like coral vite, etc...
If you already said, please forgive my but you do have a skimmer right??
 
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thomas712

Guest
I do at least a 20% water changes monthly using Oceanic salt

This could be the famous algea that some folks experience when they use Oceanic salt. How long has this been happening and did it happen with other brands of salt?
I would suggest perhaps you first test a new batch of Oceanic salt.
Second I would switch to another brand of salt and then alternate.
I agree that your alk and calcium are a bit high, well the calcium anyway. I've had high alk before without it harming my system, but I like to run it at about 11dKH.
Thomas
 
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tizzo

Guest
You should definately do one!! No reason your tank need to cycle if it's 3 years old.
Actually you should do many (small ones), until you can get that number down to 0.
 
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thomas712

Guest
Ah ha, die off from liverock is giving you your ammonia. Yes you may want to consider doing some small water changes now to reduce that toxic ammonia.
Thomas
 
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tizzo

Guest
Your water changes should bring that down also. I use Oceanic and I have to supplement alk occasionally because it's a little low.
 
archie

archie

Member
So you don't think the tank is cycling again? or it is. but if I do a water change wont the cycle start all over?
 
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tizzo

Guest
Lemme 'splain this...
When you first set up your tank, and all of your surface area is spankin' clean, you start an ammonia cycle so that you will acculate the nitrifying bacteria that you need to establish bio filtration.
Once that is complete, you should find a good balance as to what you can keep in your tank with out overloading your biofilter. For example, if you put in 15 fish, the nitrifying bacteria that you have cannot keep up resulting in ammonia and nitrates/trites. You tank being 3 years old will not accumulate any more bacteria. You added more surface area when you added the additional LR but since your tank has already cycled once, this ammonia you have now is of no benefit to you.
You can call this a mini cycle, but it is no advantage to you... Do your water changes.
Vacuum your substrate.:D
 
archie

archie

Member
Thank you Tizzo, How much of a water change should I do for a 75gal. I really want this too work out I also bought a nano tank which is doing great.
 
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tizzo

Guest
20% thats 15 gallons. Just do them as often as you can til all your params are normal.
 
upsetguy

upsetguy

New Member
1 Simple word PHOSPHATE SPONGE!
I had same probaly for a while it worked in 2 days and just always keep it in filtration system never has came back!
 
shawnhardy

shawnhardy

Member
I think you could also use some more flow in your system. That can help keep that stuff from growing on your substrate.
You should also cure all live rock before adding it to your system. This will prevent the rise in the ammonia level.
 
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