Tank parameter/test issues

[imendoza26]

Hello good people!! My name is Izak I’m a 14 yr old who just upgraded from a 25 gal nano to a 75 gal tank, my father owns a fish store so I know everything there is to know about corals and fish (the store is called aqua addicts lol) but I’m just curious about what you guys think :) so my tank parameters are ph 7.5, ammonia: 0, nitrites: 0, phosphates: 5.00 and my nitrates are extremely high at around 50 ppm. I’m very impatient sadly, and since we have a fish store I took 75 gallons from a predator tank so that’s why I’m pretty sure why the nitrates and phosphates are so dang high, also I got cured live rock and sand in the tank and in the sump, I dont know how to get the ph back in check, and get the nitrates and phosphates under control, could anyone help me out (I’m also Ghost feeding).. if this helps I have a overflow, I have 2 300 micron socks, a reef octopus classic protein skimmer, about 30 pounds of live rock in the sump, ATO, and a true temp digital smart heater, and a smart EcoTech marine m2 filtering at about 1300 gph.. (and no fish)

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello good people!! My name is Izak I’m a 14 yr old who just upgraded from a 25 gal nano to a 75 gal tank, my father owns a fish store so I know everything there is to know about corals and fish (the store is called aqua addicts lol) but I’m just curious about what you guys think :) so my tank parameters are ph 7.5, ammonia: 0, nitrites: 0, phosphates: 5.00 and my nitrates are extremely high at around 50 ppm. I’m very impatient sadly, and since we have a fish store I took 75 gallons from a predator tank so that’s why I’m pretty sure why the nitrates and phosphates are so dang high, also I got cured live rock and sand in the tank and in the sump, I dont know how to get the ph back in check, and get the nitrates and phosphates under control, could anyone help me out (I’m also Ghost feeding).. if this helps I have a overflow, I have 2 300 micron socks, a reef octopus classic protein skimmer, about 30 pounds of live rock in the sump, ATO, and a true temp digital smart heater, and a smart EcoTech marine m2 filtering at about 1300 gph.. (and no fish)

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I just wanted to check one parameter - the pH being only 7.5….do you trust your measuring method? If so, you should try a test - take some water out of the tank measure the pH and then run a strong aerator on the water for 8 hours or so and retest the pH. If you see a substantial rise, then your main tank will benefit from having better/more aeration.

Do you work at your dad’s pet store? I got my start working in pet stores when I was 12 or so, all the way through college - I learned a lot in the process.

Jay

 

[imendoza26]

Thank you!! so yesterday my ph was 7.5 still, I use all types of checkers, even digital ones, and it was 7.5, I’m going to do what you said and I’ll let you know what happens later on tonight!! Also yes I work there all the time, best hobby yet!

 

[Gtinnel]

Are your phosphate measurements in ppm or ppb? If ppm your phosphate is incredibly high and if ppb then your phosphates are very low. I suspect based on where your water came from your reading is ppm and very high. Since you suspect the nitrates and phosphates were high from the water you used I'd just do water changes to bring them down to reasonable levels
Being impatient in this hobby is a very bad thing.

 

[imendoza26]

Did a 20 gal water change and and have been adding fritzyme, trying to get better at being impatient lol, but the tank is looking really good so far, I just tested the water and since the water change my ph went back up to 8.00!! And my nitrates are around 30 ppm now, going to wait a week and then going to do another water change because I don’t want to start a mini cycle. I can’t test the phosphates till Wednesday when my store opens so we will see then!! And I’m testing ppm not ppb