Nitrate problem help please

you can also try building an algae scrubber and just clean it every week or so....i have one 4 months running now on my new tank and i havent had any problems with nitrates or algae since...

 

Anyone?

 

Remember that smaller systems "feel it" better and faster than larger systems. Hope I made sense. Luna

 

Zero to 80 though?

That sounds absurd

Remember, that was overnight. Literally.

 

I dont understand it i get it but i think theres more to it. Im not stressing it as much now last night nitrates were at 20ppm ammonia was 0ppm so its getting better. BUT my buddy checked his PH and he said it was really low. I havent checked mine yet but he thinks the LFS doesnt put PH buffer in there RO water. We both get owr water from there. Is this true?

 

I dont know if it was over night or not. i checked it thursday befor i added the eel it was 0ppm. i then added the small clowns friday. Then i added the rock and the bigger clowns saturday morning. i checked it saturday night and it was at 80ppm. wait a min theres no way it could have been the rock thats not even 8 hours?

 

Tank is just 6 weeks old leave it alone and add nothing more and give it 5 more weeks the problem will then be gone or real ! There is so much going on in that system at this point trying this and doing that will just keep it in turmoil and there is no simple fix , It takes time bacteria work on their schedule and all it needs is time at tis point.. Try to keep what ever you have now alive and feed it as litle as possible let it be no water changes and give it 6 more week.

 

Yes, you definitely overloaded your system enough to cause that high of a nitrate spike.

 

o im not messing with it or doing anything i and waiting

 

Are you using test kits or test strips for your testing. Strips are known to be much more inaccurate compared to the kits. Either way it sounds like you defiantly overloaded your system. Make sure you have a tight fitting lid on your tank otherwise that eel is going to escape to the floor.