Tank Emergency!!

[Carmen]

Originally Posted by EmilyB

I'm just thinking too many water changes, based on this and some other messages I've read. That can cause problems too. Relax, go on holidays, bah, nitrates of 20?

you think so?? Just leave it? Oh now I am really confused!

[WhoPoopWrasse]

I really doubt nitrates at 20 will cause any problems. Unless your tank sitter overfeeds, things will be fine until you get back. I think feeding lightly every 2 days would be in order so your tank sitter doesn't run up the nitrates.
I've seen ntrates up to almost 50 in my daughters tank and nothing died, just a bit of color loss in the corals and they went back to normal as the trates went down....
Go have a good time!

[Carmen]

Originally Posted by WhoPoopWrasse

I really doubt nitrates at 20 will cause any problems. Unless your tank sitter overfeeds, things will be fine until you get back. I think feeding lightly every 2 days would be in order so your tank sitter doesn't run up the nitrates.
I've seen ntrates up to almost 50 in my daughters tank and nothing died, just a bit of color loss in the corals and they went back to normal as the trates went down....
Go have a good time!

Wow, thanks, you've made me feel a million times better!
Hoping for the best then! Away we go - leaving this morning now! Wish and pray!
Thanks!

[Carmen]

Update!!! So I performed one last 5G WC and left for holidays. Had my Mom come in the next morning to check everything. Nitrates down to 5! The next morning down to 0!!!!!!!!!!!!! PHEW! Can you believe it!
Now....relax and sunnin at the Shuswap! Well as much relaxin as allowed while chasing after a 2 year old and a 3 year old!

[JDigital]

Glad to hear the news!

Enjoy the vacation!

[Carmen]

So, I was able to relax abit on holidays asfar as the tank is concerned as my nitrates dropped right down to 0 while I was away. However the very day I got back they spiked again up to 30!!!
So NOW WHAT???? I have been doing 5 G WC daily since then(Sunday) and they have not really decreased. Everything seems okay, where are these nitrates coming from? So I am guessing my bioload is too high and the only way to control this will be WC possibly 2-3 times weekly?
I do not have a skimmer running as I ordered it, received it broken and have yet to receive the replacement.(Hopefully this week) Will a skimmer help nitrates?

Thanks for reading my rant!

[scumchug]

Your tank is very new, only 4 months isn't very old. You can expect nitrate spikes for at least 6 months. Some tanks take the better part of a year to stabilize.

A sump will help flatten out the spikes. I wouldn't worry at all as long as your PO4 and NO2 levels are 0

30 nitrate isn't bad. I know of tanks that run at 180 or more. The fish seem to survive, the corals slowly die, but last months.