So I recently just somewhat did a re-build on my 180. I removed all live stock and corals and pretty much re did all my plumbing and added about 200lbs of live rock, and re did lights as well as adding dosing pumps and a BRS dual reactor (running GFO and carbon) Ive yet to add anything back to the tank other than some clean up crew and Im showing a huge spike in Nitrates
Heres what I did
Bought 200lbs of dry rock, cleaned it, rinsed it, cleaned it, rinsed and cured it for 4 1/2 weeks. Tested water in the curing tank and no signs of amonia, nitrites or nitrates. This told me the rock was ready to add.
I removed all fish, inverts and corals, drained tank 50%, removed rock. The only thing left in the tank was sand bed and 50% water. Tank sat for 12 hours like this with powerheads running to keep current on the sand.
The following morning we proceeded to re do the rock stack. I made a huge mistake last time and put my rocks on the sand, so this time we pulled all the sand forward in the tank, stacked rock on the glass bottom and pushed the sand back into place, needless to say the water got real murky.
I immediatly drained out 50% (remember the tank is only 50% full at this point) and added fresh saltwater back to the 50% full level. We then cleaned all pumps, powerheads and a full cleaning on the fuge / sump. Tank was re-filled and pumps / filters were re started.
2 weeks later and Im checking my levels, everyhting is on point, except for when I get to nitrates. It spiked so high I could barley get a reading, somehwere in the 40- 50 ppm range. I did a 50% water change and re tested, it brought it down a bit but not much. With 250 gal total water volume 50% water changes are expensive and time consuming, im hoping there a better way.
Ive added filter media to help control nitrates, its a media Seachem makes specifically to help reduce nitrates. I refuse to add any chemicals as I know those tend to only mask the problem. All and all I cannot figure out what the hell is going on. The good news is all my live stock is very happy in their temporary homes so Im not in too much of a hurry to get things back into the tank.
What is going on? Is my tank cycling again? Is this becuase I disturbed the sand bed? From what Ive listed above does any one have any insight or possible solutions other than what Im doing? Or do I just play the waiting game again?
I recently added a giant brittle star to the fuge to help with dibris as well as some red leg hermits, but in all honesty I cleaned the sump / fuge so good I highly doubt this is the issue. Any insight / advice would be great. My trigger wants her swim space back
Heres what I did
Bought 200lbs of dry rock, cleaned it, rinsed it, cleaned it, rinsed and cured it for 4 1/2 weeks. Tested water in the curing tank and no signs of amonia, nitrites or nitrates. This told me the rock was ready to add.
I removed all fish, inverts and corals, drained tank 50%, removed rock. The only thing left in the tank was sand bed and 50% water. Tank sat for 12 hours like this with powerheads running to keep current on the sand.
The following morning we proceeded to re do the rock stack. I made a huge mistake last time and put my rocks on the sand, so this time we pulled all the sand forward in the tank, stacked rock on the glass bottom and pushed the sand back into place, needless to say the water got real murky.
I immediatly drained out 50% (remember the tank is only 50% full at this point) and added fresh saltwater back to the 50% full level. We then cleaned all pumps, powerheads and a full cleaning on the fuge / sump. Tank was re-filled and pumps / filters were re started.
2 weeks later and Im checking my levels, everyhting is on point, except for when I get to nitrates. It spiked so high I could barley get a reading, somehwere in the 40- 50 ppm range. I did a 50% water change and re tested, it brought it down a bit but not much. With 250 gal total water volume 50% water changes are expensive and time consuming, im hoping there a better way.
Ive added filter media to help control nitrates, its a media Seachem makes specifically to help reduce nitrates. I refuse to add any chemicals as I know those tend to only mask the problem. All and all I cannot figure out what the hell is going on. The good news is all my live stock is very happy in their temporary homes so Im not in too much of a hurry to get things back into the tank.
What is going on? Is my tank cycling again? Is this becuase I disturbed the sand bed? From what Ive listed above does any one have any insight or possible solutions other than what Im doing? Or do I just play the waiting game again?
I recently added a giant brittle star to the fuge to help with dibris as well as some red leg hermits, but in all honesty I cleaned the sump / fuge so good I highly doubt this is the issue. Any insight / advice would be great. My trigger wants her swim space back