Nitrate spike

[kiransreef]

Does anyone know what would cause a nitrate spike and how to fix it? I think that the gold headed goby that I got recently digging up all the sand bed may be what caused it? What do all of you think? Could this have caused a nitrate spike....all other parameters are fine....no amonia, no nitrites, cal. is 575 which is a little higher than I normally have it, ph is 7.8 which is a little on the acidic side just need to add a little of alkalinity right? Anyone with any ideas? Adding this fish is the only thing different in the last month. Crystal

 

[akindbro4u]

how high of a spike is it? Any ill effects, or losses? I would try a bag of puragen in the sump, and do a water change. It could be the Goby digging the sand bed. Do you stir your sand bed when you do water changes?

 

[gatorolsen]

how big is the goby - usually they skim a top layer - have you added any other livestock or liverock to this tank - I thought I saw a post about a sand dollar in the other forum.

how high is the spike - any loss of clean-up crew - snails or crabs?

Gatorolsen

 

[kiransreef]

To start....no I do not stir....and the goby has dug all of the sand on one whole side of the tank practically down to the glass bottom. I think he is digging to china? lol....the spike is off the charts! lost 2 fish...lemon peel, and a small other fish. No other livestock has been added nor liverock....the sand dollar was put into my 50 gallon. No loss of any other clean up crew....
Well, I just spent the last 4 hours rearranging the rocks that all fell when trying to get little dead fish out. Many nasty words out of my mouth and temper tantrums later....it is all back together. In the meanwhile when I turned pumps back on the power strip had gotten wet and smoke was a happenin'. So, had to change out power strip set all timers again and it is finally all back up and running. Hopefully that is the end of it. Did do a water change while I was at it. Crystal

 

[reefrubble]

Large water changes will help to bring it down , and then try and find the cause . Then work to correct the problem . Ted

 

[gatorolsen]

Man, that stinks - lots of work. I know the feeling, start off addressing one issue and it seems to snowball. Good luck getting it down and figuring out what caused it.

Goby could have caused it - that is alot of digging.

What size tank, how deep is sand bed, how much liverock, what is your bioload (# and types of fish) might help us give you some ideas.

Gatorolsen

 

[kiransreef]

90 gal. 4in at least sandbed, tons of liverock probably 200lbs, 3 tangs, 1 sm scooter blenny, 2 sm clowns, purple sm fish purple yellow fish, pj cardinal, had a lemon peel and had a sm misc fish and of course the China Digger Goby. I have a pretty nice size cleanup crew as well.
running a sock and skimmer and partitioned fuge w/cheato and small pieces of LR. Also, running carbon in sack in sump.
I have come to the conclusion that it was probably the Goby. But, I really love him and don't want to part w/ him. Hopefully he stays digging on the one whole side he has dug up already. Crystal

 

[adnup]

How are the nitrates coming?

I had a huge nirtrate spike, I fixed with BIG water changes and changing the sock 1 to 2 time a day. Which got it down to 25ppm and wouldn't budge from there. The addition of a sulfur reactor got them to zero in another month. Problem is (and I dont know for sure they are related) it was followed with a green hair algae out break that I'm still dealing with.

GL Paul

 

[kiransreef]

well....they have come down a bit but....not in safe range....I just got a RO/DI unit used from a guy in Orlando.....it is a 4 stage 100gpd unit....w/tds meter and pressure gauge. But, now my prob is that can't figure out how to hook it up. Going today to get tanked (closest place) to get direction. Also, gonna go to HD to get garbage can for holding water.... Does anyone here have any extra barrel that they want to sell? I am not sure if a garbage can is the way to go? Can anyone here give me any advice? Thanks, Crystal

 

[colaman555]

Vigo foods in Tampa sells barrels for $4 a peice but you have to clean and purify them. I"ve been using the brute trash cans and they work fine, I think its a 35 gallon and I bought the casters to go with it. I roll it under the stand I built to help utilize the space in the garage.


Russ