New Tank-Frustrated Already

[ebess]

Yes, I am sure it is nitrates. Tonight I'm going to go buy sand, and see what happens. I'm going to start doing water changes like you guys recommended. I have been rinsing the sponges with ro water every 3-4 days.

How long (if you had to guess) do you think its going to take if I get the sand in tonight and do water changes as recommened until the water parameters are normal?

Thank you so much for your help

 

[sunfish11]

Live rock does not filter nitrates like someone else here stated. Water changes are what you do to reduce nitrates.

Yes, it does. It completes the final portion of the nitrogen cycle that the bio-balls, ceramics, and sponges do not. It converts the nitrates into nitrogen gas.

Water changes can help reduce nitrates but they are not the most effective method and nitrates reduced exclusively in this manner jump back up very quickly. The best way would be allowing your live rock and live sand to do it's job and adding a refuge to grow macro or some non-invasive type like cheato to an inconspicuous area of the main display.

Relax ebess, I know you are impatient but you need to try to be as patient as possible. Change the CC, leave out the bio-media. You can have a small sponge if you like but keep it clean. In your instance I would do a 75-100% water change since you have very little livestock. Personally I would just change it all out, hermits are tough. Then leave the tank alone for awhile and let it complete the cycle. After removing the CC and the bio-media you may see a small amonia spike. The cycle should be fairly fast. When all your tests come out to ZERO or all ZERO and <10 Nitrates, you may begin adding livestock.


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Lisa

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[ebess]

My "friend" is the one who went out and bought everything and set it all up. I trusted them because they have a couple of tanks that have been up and running for quite a while. Last year, I got a 55 gallon tank (that they "helped" me with)(he also told me I could buy fish the same day I got the tank set up) Needless to say, it only lasted 3 months. I just kept buying fish, and they kept dying. I am not blaming them, because it was my fault for not doing research, just buying what they said to buy. I sank $3000.00 into it, and sold it after 3 months. I decided to try again with something smaller, and not so expensive. I didn't think they could hurt anything by setting it up and buying the tank. They said they got some new water, and water from one of his tanks. It was set up for about 2 days before I got it. I had the nitrates tested the day after I had it set up and the nitrates were off the scale. I waited a couple of weeks and tested again. Nothing has changed. I have done 3 water changes in the 6-7 weeks that I have had the tank.

 

[Randall_James]

I would haul some of that water to a LFS and have them test it. I think if you just stay patient you will be rewarded

 

[jeeperrs]

If the crushed coral was from one of their old tanks that could be where the nitrates are coming from. I don't think adding the sand will throw you into a new cycle if you do it slowly. If you do it all at once I think it would only take a few days for the bacteria to re-establish itself (bacteria grows very fast for the most part). you can test your water for free at most fish stores so i would go by there and double check your test kit

 

[draleigh]

dude, quit stressing, go slow. If you wanted to add fish that fast you would have gone with a fresh water tank. For the most part get rid of that CC. As malintner said, scope it out, use a vacuum to clean it ALL out, then add some good live sand it again GO SLOW. you may get another cycle, yes it may take a few weeks to complete, but in the end you will have a nice tank to talk about. Personally i have a heck of a hair algae problem right now, and i will NOT give up.

 

[danceswithfish]

I think your friend did you a favor "losing" your biomedia! Just take it slow, and you will be happy!

 

[wizzbane15]

malintner is right. It is only 12 gallons with no bio-load. Start over. Dump the water and start again. I would maybe keep 1 or 2 gallons to add and presto: instant cycle. Your rock is probably pretty fully cured. Even though most LFS sell "cured" LR, a majority of it is recently cured, at best. LR continues to cure for months and increasing its capabilities to filter water.

If your nitrates are that high, you are lacking anaerobic respiration by the nitrosomes. This is where DSB's come in and are helpfull.