nitrite/nitrate spike
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Reef Chemistry
Forum Description: A place to discuss reef chemistry.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=49089
Printed Date: October 12 2025 at 4:18pm
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Topic: nitrite/nitrate spike
Posted By: cshel
Subject: nitrite/nitrate spike
Date Posted: May 21 2011 at 11:37am
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So I have been cycling my tank for about a month and a half. About a week or two ago my ammonia/nitrite went to zero with small amounts of nitrate. At that time I bought a sump and set it up with a small refugium with macroalgae from an existing tank. About a week later I started stocking with cuc and some softies. I checked my tank today and the frog spawn frag is not doing good so I tested my water. Resulsts- ammonia 0ppm, nitrite 2-5ppm, nitrate 80ppm, ph 8, salinity 1.024. I also am getting an algae bloom.
Why is it doin this? And what can I do? |
Replies:
Posted By: phys
Date Posted: May 23 2011 at 3:24am
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your cuc will add some waste to cycle as well as anything u feed or add to the tank. the nitrates and nitrites are a result of this. do a 25-50% water change each day until they are brought down to good levels for immidiate effects. the algae bloom is due to the high nitrates and use it for food. when you bring the nitrates down again, it will go away. the macro in your sump will also help bring these down. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: May 23 2011 at 8:39am
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Chris, this is an emergency situation. Please call the number below for immediate help. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: cshel
Date Posted: May 24 2011 at 11:22pm
| So I did a 20% water change last night. Tested the water today nitrite is back to zero and nitrates are now at 10 ppm. Algae is still blooming pretty good. Also added more snails and crabs today. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: May 25 2011 at 8:37am
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FWIW, you should know that a 20% water change only reduced the Nitrate level by 20%. 80ppm minus 16ppm = 64ppm. That means something else in the tank saved your butt.  Not that 64ppm Nitrate is a problem, most life will survive a short spike, but it may be important for you to know what it was that did the real job. It was the algae and bacteria. You have just witnessed the power of biofiltration. Phys described it in his post above. Algae growth and bacterial growth quickly consumes N compounds/pollution. These days, I bother much less with water changes and a lot more with algae growth, even adding more algae and turning on the lights 24/7 for a few days to let growing algae eat up the pollution. Have you read the modern method of starting a tank which completely bypasses the cycling/waiting period? It's in the Reefkeeping Tips link below. Keep your hands and arms inside the tank and enjoy the ride.  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Jake Pehrson
Date Posted: May 25 2011 at 10:01am
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I agree with Mark that a 20% water change would not have fixed this problem. I also don't think that nitrate was removed through denitrification. Although ammonia and nitrite can quick spike (and quickly de-spike (is that a word?)) nitrate is different. Nitrate levels will slowly move up and then slowly move down (unless you do large amounts of water changes). My guess is the first test you did was incorrect. ------------- Jake Pehrson Murray http://coralplanet.com" rel="nofollow - coralplanet.com http://utahbeeranch.com" rel="nofollow - :) |
Posted By: cshel
Date Posted: May 25 2011 at 11:45am
| Ya that's what I thought too and so I tested the nitrate 3 times over a day period with the same results each time.. I saw in a previous post mark saying something about turning the lights on 24/7 so I did that for 2 days then did the water change. So I dunno if that played a part too but all I know is its down now. I added more snails and crabs last night. I am gonna retest the water in a few minutes. |