OK today was doing my standard weekly test to see if my nitrates had dropped below 20, Ammonia 0, then went to nitrites, as soon as the drops were done, BAM purple. So i started to panic, test my refill water source, 0 Nitrites, Did a 70% water change and my reading are still showing off the chart. LFS tested and same reading. What would've done this. Nothing has been added in the tank for 2-3 weeks except a 1 inch mandarin. Any ideas? Doing another change tomorrow to see if i can fix it.
Um water help again
- Thread starter Jkraft136
- Start date
yote
In Memoriam
HAs anything come up missing?Maybe feeding a little more?
dustin_P74
Reef enthusiast
that big of a water change could cause a cycle so keep a close eye on it and make sure you have water on your hands
biodarwin
Reefing newb
Am I wrong in assuming that you really shouldn't do more than a 50% change at a time?
dustin_P74
Reef enthusiast
no your not, and 50% is as a last resort
cthegame
Reef enthusiast
get it tested by a third lfs after the 70%water change. Maybe you could try water from a different store. If you have your own RO unit, then buy some from walmart and see if that will have an effect.
But since youhave done a 70% water change, i would wait a while before trying it again.
But since youhave done a 70% water change, i would wait a while before trying it again.
Alexander
Reef enthusiast
Yeah, definitely never do a water change that big again. It will cause more problems than ýou already have.
I sure hope your mandarin is accepting frozen foods because in a tank as new as yours that's going to be pretty much all it will have once the pod population gets wiped out.
Sorry to heau are going through this.
I sure hope your mandarin is accepting frozen foods because in a tank as new as yours that's going to be pretty much all it will have once the pod population gets wiped out.
Sorry to heau are going through this.
I would suspect possibly contaminated test equipment. to have a nitrite spike without ammonia is questionable. this is especially if all the animals are doing ok. look at you tank and see if all is well by sight, if everything looks ok, inspect all your test equipment for proper cleaning, tubes, eye dropper, etc. good luck. also some additives can give you a false reading, are you adding anything to your tank??.
simpleman
Reefing newb
Has your tank already cycled?
JAG107
Reef enthusiast
I am going with the bad test kit theory. How old is your kit, and which kit are you using?
Piggy
Reef enthusiast
How long has the tank been up? Are you sure your tank cycled?
yote
In Memoriam
Take a water sample to your LFS and have them test it.
