Urgh seriously.

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Sarah24!

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Hello,

Okay I’m going to pull my hair out lol. Tested water just now, and alk is at 8 which is good, cal is 440 good, mag 1390 good, phosphates barley show up, that’s good. Then there are nitrates bloody helllll! They are between 80-160. They were 20 like 2 days ago. Nothing has died, I did add more turbo snails etc but not that amount to through it out of whack. I assumed phosphates would be high also, either my test is bad or I need a huge water change. I have been even dozing my nopox 30ml daily. For it to read 80-160 has me really worried now.
 

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Hello,

Okay I’m going to pull my hair out lol. Tested water just now, and alk is at 8 which is good, cal is 440 good, mag 1390 good, phosphates barley show up, that’s good. Then there are nitrates bloody helllll! They are between 80-160. They were 20 like 2 days ago. Nothing has died, I did add more turbo snails etc but not that amount to through it out of whack. I assumed phosphates would be high also, either my test is bad or I need a huge water change. I have been even dozing my nopox 30ml daily. For it to read 80-160 has me really worried now.
Retest OR even take a water sample to a trusted LFS and have them test it to see what reading they come up with.
You can add chemipure elite to the sump which will keep nitrate and Phos in check
 
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Hello,

I hope it’s an error I definitely raised the nopox dosage. I have 60-80 gallons of salt water on hand but it has been sitting in my five gallon jugs for 8 months, so was told it’s been expired. (Didn’t know water expired lol), but don’t want to risk. So I went from 30-60 ml for the nopox till I can add some carbon and water change. This is record setting for me on nitrates.
Lol I hate my tank, ever sense I’ve moved it’s been a massive struggle. The fish are doing great, some corals have bounced back. But water parameters, corals are just all over the place. Finally just going back to basics and testing daily now. But I tested it two days ago and nitrates were not low (like under 5 like normal), but still under 20. It went bright red within 15 seconds). What’s more odd is phosphates we’re higher two days ago and lower now (weird).
 

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Hello,

Okay I’m going to pull my hair out lol. Tested water just now, and alk is at 8 which is good, cal is 440 good, mag 1390 good, phosphates barley show up, that’s good. Then there are nitrates bloody helllll! They are between 80-160. They were 20 like 2 days ago. Nothing has died, I did add more turbo snails etc but not that amount to through it out of whack. I assumed phosphates would be high also, either my test is bad or I need a huge water change. I have been even dozing my nopox 30ml daily. For it to read 80-160 has me really worried now.
Hello,

Okay I’m going to pull my hair out lol. Tested water just now, and alk is at 8 which is good, cal is 440 good, mag 1390 good, phosphates barley show up, that’s good. Then there are nitrates bloody helllll! They are between 80-160. They were 20 like 2 days ago. Nothing has died, I did add more turbo snails etc but not that amount to through it out of whack. I assumed phosphates would be high also, either my test is bad or I need a huge water change. I have been even dozing my nopox 30ml daily. For it to read 80-160 has me really worried now.
Nitrates can't increase that fast. If your tank is for example 200 gallons (740 L), an increase from 20 to 160 ppm nitrate is massive (140 ppm increase = 140 mg/L x 740 L) and corresponds to more than 100 grams of nitrates in 2 days! Obviously, this is not possible. More than likely, you disturbed the bacteria during cleaning and had a small nitrite spike. Nitrites will give high reading in nitrate tests kits (in some kits 1 ppm nitrite will read as 100 ppm nitrate). I wouldn't worry.
 
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Nitrates can't increase that fast. If your tank is for example 200 gallons (740 L), an increase from 20 to 160 ppm nitrate is massive (140 ppm increase = 140 mg/L x 740 L) and corresponds to more than 100 grams of nitrates in 2 days! Obviously, this is not possible. More than likely, you disturbed the bacteria during cleaning and had a small nitrite spike. Nitrites will give high reading in nitrate tests kits (in some kits 1 ppm nitrite will read as 100 ppm nitrate). I wouldn't worry.

Hello,

I did stir the sand like (well moved it), like 20 min prior which I’m glad you pointed that out. My tank is 240 gallons and I have 75 gallons in my sump, so total water volume 325, which is including rocks and sand. I will definitely test in the morning but I didn’t move much sand (turned up my wave makers and they were moving the sand. So the sand banks that were forming I unformed and spread back over the sand bed. I forgot I did that honestly
 

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Hello,

I did stir the sand like (well moved it), like 20 min prior which I’m glad you pointed that out. My tank is 240 gallons and I have 75 gallons in my sump, so total water volume 325, which is including rocks and sand. I will definitely test in the morning but I didn’t move much sand (turned up my wave makers and they were moving the sand. So the sand banks that were forming I unformed and spread back over the sand bed. I forgot I did that honestly
That makes a lot sense. I would love to hear if the nitrates return to your basal level in a couple of days.
 
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That makes a lot sense. I would love to hear if the nitrates return to your basal level in a couple of days.
Hello;

Normally I’m always on here, but last year I was in a horrible accident and just kinda slipped away. Then i has to move. Before this, my tank was beautiful and I’m trying to work it back. It’s really hard when you had something amazing and it only went bad because I moved. I will definitely post it in the morning. I miss a ton of my friends on here and (I went back to the uk for 6 weeks and didn’t have internet). But generally I’m super shy, but I’m coming back out again :). I do miss the low coral prices from 2 years ago. Prices now are horrible.
 

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Hello;

Normally I’m always on here, but last year I was in a horrible accident and just kinda slipped away. Then i has to move. Before this, my tank was beautiful and I’m trying to work it back. It’s really hard when you had something amazing and it only went bad because I moved. I will definitely post it in the morning. I miss a ton of my friends on here and (I went back to the uk for 6 weeks and didn’t have internet). But generally I’m super shy, but I’m coming back out again :). I do miss the low coral prices from 2 years ago. Prices now are horrible.
Sweet! I'm new here and really have never blogged before on any forum, but this site is so fun. Sorry to hear about your accident and tank going south - it is good to have something to look forward too and hopefully you can get your tank back in top form. I just set up my tank at the beginning of January, completed my cycle and am slowly introducing things (just 2 fish after a 2 month quarantine). I had a saltwater aquarium a long time ago and am getting back into the hobby. I will eventually post a build thread.
 
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Sweet! I'm new here and really have never blogged before on any forum, but this site is so fun. Sorry to hear about your accident and tank going south - it is good to have something to look forward too and hopefully you can get your tank back in top form. I just set up my tank at the beginning of January, completed my cycle and am slowly introducing things (just 2 fish after a 2 month quarantine). I had a saltwater aquarium a long time ago and am getting back into the hobby. I will eventually post a build thread.

Well, welcome :). It’s nice to see another female in the hobby. It’s great hobby and rewarding, and fun. It has its great moments and tears as well. The tank becomes your favorite pet and thing to watch. Are you doing a mixed reef or any plans yet? Also lol you don’t need super silly expensive lights to have an amazing reef. Oh hint for ya, if you have little kids (or in my case I don’t have kids but nieces and nephews), don’t allow them to well pee in the sump tank. :)
 

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Well, welcome :). It’s nice to see another female in the hobby. It’s great hobby and rewarding, and fun. It has its great moments and tears as well. The tank becomes your favorite pet and thing to watch. Are you doing a mixed reef or any plans yet? Also lol you don’t need super silly expensive lights to have an amazing reef. Oh hint for ya, if you have little kids (or in my case I don’t have kids but nieces and nephews), don’t allow them to well pee in the sump tank. :)
Remember one of the old rules- stability is just as important as readings up and down.
Pre and post accident, you’ve managed the tank well
 
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Remember one of the old rules- stability is just as important as readings up and down.
Pre and post accident, you’ve managed the tank well

Hello;

Thanks :) I will say I was definitely on top of the game prior to my car wreck. Not being able to walk or drive till I healed was very hard time. Now I’m still terrified to drive but walking at least and I look normal. However the screws in my legs definitely are horrible and can really notice when it’s cold.
I want to get a lot more coral but gosh it’s super expensive in Boise. I don’t trust mail, I sent a package paid for 2 day and it’s still not there 14 days later and out 80 dollars. But even like a basic tracophellia is like 185 here in Boise and it’s not that large or like a lord color.
 

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Glad to see you back at it Sarah. Just FYI, if you are using an API kit, (I am assuming by the statement " It went bright red within 15 seconds") it may not be as bad as it seems. I've been running simultaneous nitrate tests using three different test kits, Nyos, Salifert and API. The API test kit consistently shows much higher results than the other two. Then again the real question is which one should we believe.
 
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Hello,

Yes I’m trying to get back ag it and been boosting the clean up crew and will start getting more corals. Love the corals hate the price. Anyway so re tested nitrates today and @Courtney Aldrich you were correct. My nitrates went from 160 to less than 5 when I tested this morning. Sure enough I did forget that I fixed the sand bed, leveled it out. Then tested. Which lol now phosphates are a tad higher but nitrates are good:). Here is a pic and yes the api tests are kinda crappy.
For a moment there I assumed my nephews were hiding around the tank. :/

I also wanted to show some new glazed items :) they turned out really good. I’m sure glad I aced chemistry all those years in my undergraduate program and drs program. Who knew I’d use it more for pottery then work. Could you see me now in class, “now Sarah why do you like chemistry and what are you hoping to get out of it?” “Well sir, I pretty much just wanna learn how to glaze pottery. Other than that I don’t see much use in your course”. However back in those times I would have froze and not said a word, but it was a night thought.
 

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Sarah I’m loving the coffee mugs! Glad your getting the tank back up and running the way you like, or at least trying. Lol. My tank never does what I want it to.
 
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Hello,

Well as I have had a lazy Sunday, doing well mostly nothing but watching cartons, (it’s painful working a 24 hour shift), but I tested my water again. Glad to show that all parameters are where they are suppose to be. My consumption for alk and calcium has dropped quit a bit since my tank started over. Hopefully as I add more corals and it’s stable this will pick up more. I have thought of the idea of re doing my rock formation but, not thrilled to lose any of my fish. Any one have these moments?
 
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Hello,

Worked on the tank yesterday and it’s starting to look good. (Needs more coral), but hey at least we have a starting point once again. I’ve been setting alarms in my phone to remind me to do things.
 
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Hello;

I have not posted pics because I’m not thrilled with how my tank looks but here after some current ones.
 

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Sarah24!

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Hello,

You know, people would assume I would learn that frozen fish food goes in the cup with salt water, not my glass of milk from the first time. Nope! Can one imagine what milk, garlic guard, vitality and frozen fish food tastes like. Any takers?
 

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Hey Sarah, it’s been a while since I chimed in, glad to see things are getting back on track. How are you since the accident?
 
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