Nitrites vs Nitrates

[CStrickland]

It was prolly the sandstorm. I lost my temper with a goby and reaquascaped last week. It spiked my nitrates too. IDK if it's cause it releases a bunch of poo, or because it upsets the bacteria, but it's not the worst thing you can do.
I blow off my rocks regularly and never had an issue, but tearing everything down was a whole nother level.

I did have an algae bloom, but you prolly will anyway cause it's a new tank
Good luck

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Good advice from both thanks

I was thinking a really hardy soft coral next, but 50 nitrate seem high for that will need to research. Also was going to start chemipure and purgen, but ultimately not against a reactor. Figured it would make sense to see how it goes. I am waiting on intank to make my models media basket to improve flow.

I guess I could be looking 2 clowns next week.

I am thinking at 50 I will be on a weekly water change schedule (guess this is part of finding rhythm). I don't have fish coral now, but how worried are you about replacement salt water temperature? Aka 5 gallons at 68 degrees might lower me 2 degrees in tank?

 

[gone fishin]

I personally would not sweat a couple degrees.

forgot to mention I would wait a few weeks or so before adding in any corals. Get into your WC and tank maintainance routine then some hardy corals like leathers will be fine.

 

[CStrickland]

A lot of people do a larger wc like 60-90% right after the cycle to get rid of nitrates, and then 10% weekly after that. Snails won't mind a couple degrees, a lot of them live in tide pools with really erratic temps. But always, the bigger the change the more careful you need to be. If I have to do more than 20% I get real careful about alk, temp, ph, and salinity, I have fish tho.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Oh wow good point didn't really consider other changes like salinity since I am buying store warer. I will need to get in habit of testing.

Its a good idea for me to knock out a water change. Seems like every time I do something new it doesn't quite go exactly like planned. I will stick with more frequent little changes maybe twice a week just to get use to routine. Plus the 5 gallons in 5 gallons out simplifies it

 

[thelawnwrangler]

My LFS guy talked me down from chateo for now, but I have a light and open back sump (all in one ) chamber open. Miracle Mudd is not an option. I also don't know that the chaeto would "tumble". So I am unsure about that step.

Also heard it theorized that it wasn't enough to really make a difference. I don't know if I had it I would just lie and tell people it ate nitrates and look like I have this very balance Eco system lol

Oh and I would run Chaeto light opposite DT light. I would tell people that was to keep PH balanced (PS I don't know if that is true either lol)

 

[CStrickland]

Also heard it theorized that it wasn't enough to really make a difference. I don't know if I had it I would just lie and tell people it ate nitrates and look like I have this very balance Eco system lol

Oh and I would run Chaeto light opposite DT light. I would tell people that was to keep PH balanced (PS I don't know if that is true either lol)

hehe no comment
you could also put like 15" of sand in your DT with like layers of gravel and a network of pipes, like mother nature does -.-

 

[gone fishin]

I don't know what it is but I have never had any luck with cheato. low flow, high flow, tumbling or not and different lighting. Other stuff in my refugium is growing like mad, halimeda, red algae and some caulerpa.

I have never used miracle mud but I have heard some love/hate stories.

 

[gone fishin]

hehe no comment
you could also put like 15" of sand in your DT with like layers of gravel and a network of pipes, like mother nature does -.-

I some times wonder all the things we do for our tanks, if they actually do anything for the tank or just makes us sleep better:lol:

 

[thelawnwrangler]

PS my hermit I think has already eyed up my sand sifitng snail's shell. Guy can't pop out and turn around without my hermit all over his shell.

Stay under the sand buddy

 

[gone fishin]

Witnessing a shell jacking is a pretty brutal event.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

I some times wonder all the things we do for our tanks, if they actually do anything for the tank or just makes us sleep better:lol:

Bottom line if I luck up and tank looks good I can make up the science of why and people will buy it lol

 

[gone fishin]

Bottom line if I luck up and tank looks good I can make up the science of why and people will buy it lol

:lol: Has worked for me on my tank and at work.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Witnessing a shell jacking is a pretty brutal event.

I might add some empty shells. I got the feeling that doesn't matter.

My sand sifter are my favorite though was amazed how quick they disappeared lol

 

[gone fishin]

Yeah I tried adding some shells and the crabs would cruise right by and go for the shell jack. I have a few hermits left but when I replenish my CUC I just go for snails now.

 

[CStrickland]

I think they murder for fun, but they'll need to upgrade their shells sooner or later too
This hermit picked a cool shell after he molted
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DaU5etPejZA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Lol that's awesome. I won't add more than the 2. Do the sand sifters just die in the sand?

 

[thelawnwrangler]

My hermit is exploring the empty shell. I had to leave but he might chose a better path

 

[thelawnwrangler]

This just in 5 gallon water change or 13.9% isn't really moving that nitrate needle.

Maybe 10 gallons tomorrow. Do snails and hermits care about a 4 degree water change?

 

[CStrickland]

This might be interesting http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/
Here is a pic of the mathematical reduction in nitrates from daily water changes; assuming you don't add any nitrates, and nothing else is removing them.
As you can see it would take a year at 13% to reduce them to one third their current level. So yeah, it's more about getting the nitrate reducing bacteria up and running, but wc's help in the meantime.

I wouldn't worry about 4* but more than that its a good idea to warm it up. I've heated rodi in a pot on the stove in a pinch, like if you boil a potful and add it to a 5g bucket (before the salt) it can get you a few degrees.