New system showing extreme nitrate

[d6s]

I set up a new 150 gallon system, Seeded it with live rock and 2 foam pads from my main display tank in my living room, and added a lot of copepods.

After a week or so it was showing ~13 nitrate and ~0.07 phosphate.

Another week later and it was at 75 nitrate and 0.11 phosphate.

I did a 25% water change and a day later it was back to 75 nitrate.

Using the Hanna Nitrate HR checker. Not sure if nitrite could be showing a high result, I’ve heard of this with some test kits.

My next venture is going to be vodka dosing if I can’t dial it in.

 

[Shnetts]

I did a 25% water change and a day later it was back to 75 nitrate.

it will be blinking 75 if its over the max readable value

Is there any fish in the tank? do you know where the nitrate is being introduced from?

 

[d6s]

it will be blinking 75 if its over the max readable value

Is there any fish in the tank? do you know where the nitrate is being introduced from?

It was blinking 75 for sure.

No fish, just some zoas (all ticked) and 75 dwarf Cerith snails.

No idea where the nitrate is coming from. A couple small pieces of live rock I used to see the tank had a little dried algae on them but not crazy, I have since removed those.

Did another 25% water change last night, will test again today.

I’m going to cross reference with my salifert kits as well.

 

[d6s]

it will be blinking 75 if its over the max readable value

Is there any fish in the tank? do you know where the nitrate is being introduced from?

Update…
Just got home and used my salifert.
Nitrite = 1
Nitrate = >50

I’m assuming the nitrite reading is throwing off the nitrate level and that’s why it’s so elevated.

 

[Shnetts]

The hanna tests them separately, wouldn't effect the reading.

Are you feeding the tank? theres gotta be something going into the tank to bring the levels that high

 

[d6s]

The hanna tests them separately, wouldn't effect the reading.

Are you feeding the tank? theres gotta be something going into the tank to bring the levels that high

I put 1 algae wafer in the tank for the snails to eat, no food otherwise.
My mind is blown.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Update…
Just got home and used my salifert.
Nitrite = 1
Nitrate = >50

I’m assuming the nitrite reading is throwing off the nitrate level and that’s why it’s so elevated.

Yes, that’s what I was going to write anyway. :)

 

[d6s]

Yes, that’s what I was going to write anyway. :)

Oxygenating the water with 2 air stones in the sump, put some fritz zyme 9 in, and sucked up the AF Life Source that was sitting on the bottom of my sump (just in case) . Hopefully that’ll balance things out in the next day or two.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Oxygenating the water with 2 air stones in the sump, put some fritz zyme 9 in, and sucked up the AF Life Source that was sitting on the bottom of my sump (just in case) . Hopefully that’ll balance things out in the next day or two.

Where are you sourcing your water?
Have you checked the TDS out of your RODI system?

You could be introducing Nitrates with your water changes.
Also Nitrite in your system would be elevating the Nitrate reading.

 

[d6s]

Where are you sourcing your water?
Have you checked the TDS out of your RODI system?

You could be introducing Nitrates with your water changes.
Also Nitrite in your system would be elevating the Nitrate reading.

8 stage RODI filter for my mixing. Tested the water and it’s 0 across the board.