Nitrate SPIKE!!!!!!

[mrhasan]

Having an extremely bad day (both in terms of tank and in terms of me).

I noticed for the last few days that my corals are blooming at the best. So today I checked my nitrate and found it above 40ppm :O :O :O

I started thinking what can be the cause and then realized that I have been heavily feeding my tank for the last few days and that must be the result of this spike! The last spike I had was like 4 months back when I didn't have any chaeto but afterwards, my nitrates always remained undetectable (chaeto was doing a great work!) till now.

Besides, my rainbow paly got infected with bacteria so took it out; elegance died (was imminent; it was an indo and was not looking good from the beginning) and had to throw away a gorg. My red monti cap got white marks (nitrate issue); red montidigi became white at the base and the birdnest also got a white base. Broke the white base of birdnest and glued it to the rock but can't do the same with the monti (too thick).

10gallon saltwater is been prepared as I am writing this. Will do a 50% change tomorrow morning and cut down on feeding double time!

I just hope I don't get too much die off. Will be a big loss

Would love to get some suggestion on this situation

[11purewater]

What died? or where's the dead spot in your tank.

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by 11purewater

What died? or where's the dead spot in your tank.

Nothing died. Elegance and gorg's death were imminent (irrelevant with the nitrate). The rainbow paly didn't open since I got it like few days back and today I noticed infection so took it out.

Things are thriving but I noticed my acans are a bit shrunk (best indicator for nitrate) and montis are a bit white. Nitrate!

I don't think dead spot is of any issue since I have fairly low "rock blocked" places in the tank. The chaeto always sucked up nitrate real good (GSP, xenia, mushroom) don't grow but thrive in my tank. Last few days, I noticed my mushrooms doing great (duh!). I even checked whether the chaeto is dying and its all green and grew significantly since the last trim. In the last few days, I fed my tank HEAVILY! And my heavily, I mean 3 full meals for the fishes (flakes + cylop + something else like brine or mysis) and fed my corals heavily (mix of snow + cylop + brine + mysis). That's my story.

I am guessing the food is the real criminal over here.

[kien]

Sounds like you've got things under control. Larger water changes and perhaps some carbon to suck up some death chemicals dissolved in the water.

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by kien

Sounds like you've got things under control. Larger water changes and perhaps some carbon to suck up some death chemicals dissolved in the water.

Thanks Kien

I do run carbon religiously (2 bags of chemi pure elite + 1 bag of aquaclear carbon) but they need to be replaced. Was waiting for boxing day sale but I will just get an aquaclear tomorrow to run for now.

[11purewater]

missing any snails?

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by 11purewater

missing any snails?

I just have two astreas and they just keep on gazing and gazing and gazing :P Don't see them often but they are alive for sure (saw one today).

[kien]

If nothing died to cause the nitrate spike then it may be from your over feeding. Could be that your fish just didn't eat as much as they normally do or you just fed more than they were interested in eating at the time.

I have a Hob filter that came with my 20 gal sump you can have. Its brand new. But you must take the lights also. its not hagen, maybe aqueon or top fin.

[11purewater]

did you stir up any grey patches in the sand recently?