Nitrates off the chart

[Angelajean]

Yesterday, I was testing my tank and my nitrates are off the chart. I went to get water and had my LFS test my water. I was sure my test kit must be off. No its high.
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 160
pH 8.0
I have changed 40 gallons of water about 4 hours ago.
Possible causes:
Redid the aquascape.
Can't find my serpent star in sump.
Possible overfeeding. I have cut my feeding way back.

How long should it take to fix this. My coral and fish are doing fine. I am waiting for a order of snails that I am putting on hold until I get this under control.
Thanks for any help. I am very frustrated.

I have a skimmer in my sump but it is down until Monday because my husband broke the venturi piece and we ordered it overnight.

 

[mariobrothersleeve]

I would do every other day w/c's until they were down. I agree, moving the rocks could bring a huge spike in trates. When was the last time you checked? Make sure you bring them down slowly

 

[Angelajean]

I checked them just now and they are at >20 not quite 40. I did dose the tank with NO3:PO4-X by Red Sea. My tank has been set up the same way for 1 1/2 years so even with regular changes things can build up

 

[Angelajean]

I would do every other day w/c's until they were down. I agree, moving the rocks could bring a huge spike in trates. When was the last time you checked? Make sure you bring them down slowly

Why bring them down slowly?

 

[mariobrothersleeve]

Fast reaction for the corals and fish. They were introduced slowly to 160ppm to be depleted to 30ish fast is stressful. Yes you want to get your ppm down, but over time.
My question earlier was before seeing 160ppm, when did you test before that? A month? Several months? Your phoshates must be pretty high too?
Why is everyone dosing these additives? They are not needed unless you run a ulns, and with fish and no carbon dosing = pretty impossible to have a ulns. You are very lucky that everything is fine, but not out of the woods yet. Please do smaller more frequent w/c's.

 

[Angelajean]

Aquarium Wortman fam parameters are:
Temperature: 80
Salinity: 1.022
Ammonia, NH4: 0
Nitrate, NO3: 20
Nitrite, NO2: 0
pH: 8.0
Calcium, Ca: 400
Phosphate, PO4: 0.25
date: August 2, 2014

Over the last weeks my parameters for Ammonia/ nitrites/nitrates have been 0.

Nitrites started climbing after I redid the aquascape. I think the reading between 80 & 160 is difficult to read.I had alot of rock in top. I moved more rock to my sump and added another pump. The reason I used the chemical is because my sump is down until Monday. My fish have had no visible signs of distress. My coral looks better this morning. My bad I always thought to correct the problem ASAP when nitrates are that high.

I have frogspawn so should I dose
calcium? It is at 400.
Thanks for your help

 

[mariobrothersleeve]

No need to dose, increase your sal. to 1.026 and your reaction will be higher cal. and alk. You haven't posted your alk. but I assume it is lower too? I am unaware of your coral selection but lps and softies do not mind the dirty water.
You'll be fine, just make slow adjustments.

 

[Angelajean]

No need to dose, increase your sal. to 1.026 and your reaction will be higher cal. and alk. You haven't posted your alk. but I assume it is lower too? I am unaware of your coral selection but lps and softies do not mind the dirty water.
You'll be fine, just make slow adjustments.

I have a few zoos, xenia, mushrooms and a frogspawn. I am going to check ALK when I get back home. I am working on salinity. Suggestions on best way to increase?

 

[mariobrothersleeve]

With water changes. I use a scale to weigh up my salt. 21.5 grams gives 1.026 or 35 ppt.

 

[Angelajean]

With water changes. I use a scale to weigh up my salt. 21.5 grams gives 1.026 or 35 ppt.

Do weighing rather that measuring cup?
I use reef salts by Instant ocean.

 

[mariobrothersleeve]

It really doesn't matter how you get to 1.026, I personally weigh it up for consistency.

 

[wontonflip]

+1 mario.....looks like you got your nitrates down. Slow is best. If you do too much too fast, you will stress your fish and corals.