mslpilt Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 I purchased a second Bio Cube 29g that had been established for 5 years. Came with about 25-30 lbs of live rock and the water. There are no inhabitants at this time and I'm trying to get the water stable before I add anything. I've done 3 water changes so far, each around 20%. My nitrates are greater than 160 ppm after all three, as it was prior to any water change. Currently removing the bio balls slowly which the previous owner used. At this time only using filter floss and chemipure with remaining bio balls. What is causing the high nitrate levels if there is nothing in the tank? The live rock has no growth on it, but was transported in containers of the original water. Also, the live rock has very little coralline algae on it and none anywhere in the tank. Find it kind of strange that the live rock would be so plain with little coloration after five years of established tank. Any one have any insight? Thanks for the help.
Acielot Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 Find it kind of strange that the live rock would be so plain with little coloration after five years of established tank. Any one have any insight? Thanks for the help. PIcs of rock please. If it looks like rock that you would find in your back yard it probably was not in the tank for those 5 years. There should at least be hair algae if not coralline. That alone makes me doubt it was actually established that long. No fish or coral inhabitants?
mslpilt Posted December 12, 2012 Author Posted December 12, 2012 Will post pic's of rocks soon. Yeah I'm dubious about the state of the "live rock" however the back wall of the tank does look to have some past growth on it, almost barnacle like. There are no inhabitants of any sort. Just rock, sand and water.
Tbone675 Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 Where are you getting your wc water? Take out all the bio balls at once.there is no bio load so it doesn't matter.the only way to lower nitrates is with large water changes. Do a 100% water change.
mslpilt Posted December 12, 2012 Author Posted December 12, 2012 RO/DO water from LFS. Test 0 ppm for nitrates with salt mix so i'm not adding any. Next step was going to be a full scale water change just wanted to poll the experts before hand. Will remove the bio balls as well.
krackerjacksna Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 100% water change, and just pull all bio balls out,
TristanC Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 Was there any sand in the tank? If there was, stirring it up could release tons of crap into the tank.
mslpilt Posted December 12, 2012 Author Posted December 12, 2012 There's about 2.5-3 inches of sand when moving tank and I thought maybe removing and replacing the rocks and disturbing the sand released a large amount of detritus and such.
skimlessinseattle Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 Use a turkey baster to try to dislodge any detritus stuck in the crevices of your rock. It is likely loaded with debris that is causing the high nitrates. Do this before a large water change. Toss the balls. There's about 2.5-3 inches of sand when moving tank and I thought maybe removing and replacing the rocks and disturbing the sand released a large amount of detritus and such. Theres your problem. Either vacuum like heck or ditch it and start fresh or even BB.
TristanC Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 I say ditch all sand and start with fresh dry sand.
19jeffro83 Posted December 12, 2012 Posted December 12, 2012 I say ditch all sand and start with fresh dry sand. +1 I'd also shake the hack out of the LR in a bucket full of tank water to clean out the junk in it the best you can.
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