I have a 36gal. seahorse tank that ive been running for alittle over 2 months after the water cycled. I was told to add macroalgae with seahorses that it would help with nitrates and give the seahorses a few perches to grab onto. I put the algae in 3 days ago and now the levels are going nuts real high nitrites and nitrates and lowered my ph down to 8.0. fixed the ph problem real quick but does anyone know a healthy way to bring the levels down. really need some help. I have read a bunch of ways but always better to hear from someone that has a proven way
seahorse water levels help please
- Thread starter kaz018777
- Start date
urbanrat84
New member
+1 water changes in this instance, but make sure you are removing wastes from the aquarium and its not accumulating under rocks etc.
TamiW
Seahorse Wrangler
What were the levels at before adding the macro? Was there down die off or did it for sexual? I can't see any reason why it would add to the nitrate or mess up the cycle so you're seeing nitrites again. The ph could be from respiring co2 at night, though I would be doubtful it could do that much that quickly.
What was the ph at its lowest? How did you correct it? Are their currently seahorses or other fish on the tank? I wasn't clear from your message.
What was the ph at its lowest? How did you correct it? Are their currently seahorses or other fish on the tank? I wasn't clear from your message.
levels still messed up
levels still messed up
all the levels were good. everything was at zero ammonia,nitrites and nitrates and ph was 8.3. I read a lot of stuff about macro algae being very helpful for seahorses and they like to hang on it. so I added a few to the tank and did a test about a day later when I tested my other tanks and the levels just went crazy. I don't understand why. I thought about a water change but sometimes I know if you have crazy levels and do a water change it cAN RECYCLE the tank.
levels still messed up
all the levels were good. everything was at zero ammonia,nitrites and nitrates and ph was 8.3. I read a lot of stuff about macro algae being very helpful for seahorses and they like to hang on it. so I added a few to the tank and did a test about a day later when I tested my other tanks and the levels just went crazy. I don't understand why. I thought about a water change but sometimes I know if you have crazy levels and do a water change it cAN RECYCLE the tank.
I also used a algae control kit that hd test kits made to test nitrates at a higher level to test nitrates at a higher level then the average test kits. so should I remove the macro algae or just give it alittle? Is it possible that added these plants through the flow off in the tank to now give me dead spots? I have know clue jus throwimg out possibilities. Has anyone ran into anything like this before
urbanrat84
New member
It is odd to say the least. Honestly unless any livestock is looking unhappy, I wouldn't worry about it. Do a water change and a general clean to remove any wastes in the tank, test again in a few days.
vlangel
Premium Member
This is what I would do also. Macro algae unless it is full of detritus and dead stuff should not hurt your parameters. Baste the rockwork and macros, syphon out what blows off with a water change and test again in a day or so.
What kind of macro algae did you use? The LFS here pointed out some plants that could skew your water chemistry but I can't recall which ones they were.
I also added caulerpa prolifera to my tank and went insane. It got so thick I had to "mow" my tank and pull out large clumps because it was hindering the flow.
I also added caulerpa prolifera to my tank and went insane. It got so thick I had to "mow" my tank and pull out large clumps because it was hindering the flow.
