Originally Posted by hrdkndy
Question:
I have a 80 gallon tank that I have had up and running for over 4 months now. I just added LR to my tank. My problem is my levels are off the chart. I realize that I am doing this backwards. Should have added the LR first. Lesson learned. What do I do about the levels? Will they just even out? My fish are stressed and I have lost my Butterfly. My LFS guy said to introduce LR slowly. So I put in 18 LBS. Do I do a water change? Leave it alone? I realized panicing doesnt do much..haha. But if ANYONE has ANY feedback as to my problem it will be MUCH appreciated. Thank you.
Yes LR should of been added first, but it's never too late to add them now, but a small amounts at a time. You should have a QT tank on the side to place all your live stock within during this process of adding. You need to push the subtrate to reach bare bottom tank and place base rocks on the bottom against the glass then push the substrate back in place filling around the base rock(ALL the base rocks can be added in all at once), then add your live rocks on top, just a few lbs at a time(around 5lbs a month). Preferably well cured rocks otherwise you'll have high spikes like what your having right now from die offs on the rocks. You should do a water change around 25% every other day to bring the levels back down. Once everything is back down, I would leave it alone for a couple of months for it to adjust and just do your weekly water changes as usual. :happyfish