Tank Emergency!!

Carmen · #1 08-09-2008, 02:31 AM

Help PLEASE!!! Ofcourse I am leaving on holidays for 2 weeks on Sunday and my tank has started to show mega nitrates!!!!! First time anything has ever been outa whack and it's right before I leave!!!
So I tested on Tues and it showed Nitrates about 5(possibly 10 as I cannot tell the difference on my tests). Did a larger than normal WC of 5 Gallons (it's a 27G bowfront). Retested Thursday and said the same did another almost 5G WC and cleaned the canister filter out completely as I figured perhaps that was the source as it had accumulated alot of debris. Kept the rubble submerged most of the time only out of water to transfer containers to clean it. Changed the carbon, cleaned all powerheads, siphoned off rocks in tank of any detrius.
Rechecke nitrates tonight and shows Nitrates of 20!!!

NO NOTHING has died! NOTHING! Corals look okay with a litle less perkiness to some. Fish are fine and eating so far.
HELP!!!!! Now what! I have no salt water mixed right now will mix some up but what am I going to do? Anyone PLEASE!!!
And there is no option not to go on holidays so what do I have the sitter do?
Carmen

michika · #2 08-09-2008, 02:33 AM

Do a 5g WC tonight, one tomorrow, and one Sunday before you leave (if you can). Is your tank sitter able to continue testing and doing WCs for you?

Have you double checked your test kit to make sure its acccurate?

20ppm won't kill anything (in the short time, provided its not a super sensitive coral), but it is high. I'd worry if it hits 30ppm.

Carmen · #3 08-09-2008, 02:59 AM

okay, so another WC tonight. But any ideas where it's coming from? No deaths, no major stirring up display or anything. Am I just OVERSTOCKED and it suddenly shows up this way?

JDigital · #4 08-09-2008, 03:00 AM

I don't think you are overstocked, based on your signature..

Red Coral Aquariums · #5 08-09-2008, 03:11 AM

test your water change water before you do water change it is strange that you have a jump after a h20 change. give your tank sitter our # and they can come in the store with a water sample and we will test it and give recommendations.
Kevin

marie · #6 08-09-2008, 03:11 AM

Have you tested your make up water, you may be adding nitrates with every water change

MikeP · #7 08-09-2008, 04:09 AM

How long has the tank be set up for? It sound like a natural spike if your tank is fairly new. Water changes is the only thing you can do to safely bring nitrates down, have you tested for ammonia yet? You should keep an eye on it as well.