Question! Huge nitrate swings ove night

[Dbranch]

Having nitrate swing from 10 to 160ppm on api and salifert test kits. I test with in the same hour each day and find one day 10ppm next day 160ppm then back to 40 ppm. Reading zero phosphate per the same test. Iam running a skimmer and refugium with chaeto. The later is reversed light schedule from tank. Have done a 20 gallon water change on a 60 gallon system with no effect. Also dosed neo phosphate to readable level .25 and back zero the next day. Still dosing neo phos and Last to days I started to carbon dose. What to look for thanks
1.025 salinity
Dkh7 to 8
Ph 8.4
Cal 460 to 480
Mag 1380

 

[Formulator]

Are you feeding at different times relative to testing? Testing soon after feeding will give high nitrate readings. Also something could have died if this is a one time occurrence. A snail perhaps? What size tank?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

A swing of more than a hundred ppm nitrate overnight is test error. Real changes would be at most a few ppm.

 

[Dbranch]

Are you feeding at different times relative to testing? Testing soon after feeding will give high nitrate readings. Also something could have died if this is a one time occurrence. A snail perhaps? What size tank?

feed about the same time everyday before work. 60/65 total system.

 

[Dbranch]

A swing of more than a hundred ppm nitrate overnight is test error. Real changes would be at most a few ppm.

two different test manufactures Api and Sailfert over several days both show nitrates all over the place

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I would lean towards error is testing protocols, it seems highly unlikely that if it rose that fast it could fall again that quickly.

I understand that you are using two different kits, but I would verify you have the timing down exactly and that you are mixing/stirring appropriately as well as verifying any drops coming from bottles are being done while the bottle is straight up and to try to get as uniform of a drop as possible.

 

[C_AWOL]

There must be some form of testing error or the reagents are bad.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

two different test manufactures Api and Sailfert over several days both show nitrates all over the place

I don’t doubt that, but that doesn’t make it possible to be a real nitrate swing.

 

[Formulator]

The bad analysts in my lab at work also have inconsistent results with multiple different assays ;)

 

[Dbranch]

I would lean towards error is testing protocols, it seems highly unlikely that if it rose that fast it could fall again that quickly.

I understand that you are using two different kits, but I would verify you have the timing down exactly and that you are mixing/stirring appropriately as well as verifying any drops coming from bottles are being done while the bottle is straight up and to try to get as uniform of a drop as possible.

i can pick up a new test kit tomorrow and give that a try but as far as testing i do it the same way every time. just odd that both test kits show the same things, unless their both bad.

 

[Dbranch]

The bad analysts in my lab at work also have inconsistent results with multiple different assays ;)

the tank is over 1 year old and this is something i haven't seen before. the phosphate continuers to drop due to something consuming it or seeping into the rocks. sand etc. so that i understand. testing nitrate on two different test kits, getting similar results. shouldn't jump that much that fast. possible both kits are bad, I don't know. but never had this issue before and my other test appear normal and consistent

 

[Dan_P]

Having nitrate swing from 10 to 160ppm on api and salifert test kits. I test with in the same hour each day and find one day 10ppm next day 160ppm then back to 40 ppm. Reading zero phosphate per the same test. Iam running a skimmer and refugium with chaeto. The later is reversed light schedule from tank. Have done a 20 gallon water change on a 60 gallon system with no effect. Also dosed neo phosphate to readable level .25 and back zero the next day. Still dosing neo phos and Last to days I started to carbon dose. What to look for thanks
1.025 salinity
Dkh7 to 8
Ph 8.4
Cal 460 to 480
Mag 1380

Nitrates do not change that rapidly but small variations in nitrite might make it look that way.

I read that the aquarium is a year old. Has the phosphate level been difficult to maintain since you started?

 

[Dbranch]

Nitrates do not change that rapidly but small variations in nitrite might make it look that way.

I read that the aquarium is a year old. Has the phosphate level been difficult to maintain since you started?

No only had to dose once and i believe it was absorbed by my rock shortly after start up