Nitrates?

iamurri33 · Nov 9, 2015

I did a 30% water change in my 125 and tested nitrates about 10 minutes after. Do I have to wait a couple hours before testing or should I be able to test a couple minutes after the water change?

HiddenUser · Nov 9, 2015

Personally I'd wait at least a few hours, or better, wait until the next day to test. This would give sufficient time to let new clean water mix in and dilute the nitrates.

iamurri33 · Nov 9, 2015

The more water changes and bigger the water change I do the lower the ph will go correct?

HiddenUser · Nov 9, 2015

pH? That should remain fairly constant between water changes.

Water changes will definitely help with lowering the nitrates as long as you keep up with them. Some people use vodka dosing, biopellets, macro algae, etc to help control nitrates as well.

iamurri33 · Nov 9, 2015

I just put about a football size of cato in my fug 2 days ago. And so what makes your ph lower or higher?

HiddenUser · Nov 9, 2015

iamurri33 said:
I just put about a football size of cato in my fug 2 days ago. And so what makes your ph lower or higher?

o2 and co2 in the water would be the biggest thing. People use c02 in their calcium reactors to lower the ph, which in turn makes the water more acidic to break down the calcium media. Then they also use macro algae on a reverse light cycle in their refugiums to maintain a stable pH as the pH of your reef tank will typically drop at night time.

Also if you have a bunch of people over and they're in or around the room your tank is located, watch the pH it'll drop as everyone is stealing all the oxygen! :)

Some additional and more scientific information --- http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/

twilliard · Nov 9, 2015

To the OP
You will be able to test your no3 within a matter of an hour.
Do you have a high concentration of no3??

iamurri33 · Nov 9, 2015

twilliard said:
To the OP
You will be able to test your no3 within a matter of an hour.
Do you have a high concentration of no3??

Yes they are high I did 2 water changed and added cato 2 days ago so hopefully it will drop soon. I Moved the tank and moved around the sand. So got a nitrate spike

twilliard · Nov 9, 2015

iamurri33 said:
Yes they are high I did 2 water changed and added cato 2 days ago so hopefully it will drop soon. I Moved the tank and moved around the sand. So got a nitrate spike

That would do it!
Be careful with your changes, that will shock coral faster than high no3 :-)