Nitrate Spike Reason?!?

[extremecoral]

Well, I don't know what happened to my new nano tank. Recently I transfer what's left of livestock and LR to my new nano tank, even the water. I tested it and the result gives me an astonish face. the nitrate levels are reading from 20 aprox 40. Is this normal??? is the tank recirculating? I transferred everything from an established tank, even the water from the old tank. Any idea this could be? I will post up my all my para soon. PO3: .25 NO3: 20-40.... Coral is fine, even they are spawning well.:frusty:

 

[SeaLion]

What test kit are you using?

Did you transfer the sand bed? Was it dirty?

What was the nitrate level in the previous tank prior the the transfer?

 

[pandora32]

My guess would be the movement of the live rock and the disturbing of the sand bed released some yuckys into the water. Do a large water change and my guess would be your nitrates will go down.

 

[extremecoral]

Well, guys I do not include any sand from the old tank. My plan was to keep the tank as clean as it is for SPS tank. I am using the API test kits and Elos as magnesium kit.

 

[extremecoral]

Pandora, I did do more than 20% water change every other day. The nitrate is not going down, it still stays at about 20 after the water change, and back up to 40 right after the day of water change. I'm thinking the tank is recirculating, let me know as I don't want to crash the tank with high level of nitrate.

 

[james734]

Possible test kit issue? Can you try with a different test kit other than API? Maybe take water to a LFS for testing also.

 

[pandora32]

Yea, i think you need a different test kit. Dont know where you live, but id take a ziplock bag of water to my lfs to have it tested. Where do you get your water? Tap or is it ro/di? Test your mixed water before you put it in the tank as well. On a side note…lol, im going to fix your lingo…its cycling or re-cycling, not recirculating…lol, thought that was funny, sorry.

 

[extremecoral]

lol probably I didn't take a look at it. I will try to buy a new one let see... weird my clown died in that tank this morning....