At Trouble

[Charith1986]

Hi, I started my 40Litre nano tank over a month ago and there are two clowns in it (one inch). I was doing weekly a 10% water change and today i did a Nitrate test.

The results were alarming and it is 100. Immediately I did a 10Litre (25%) water change. Cleaned the sponges.

 

What should I do ? I am going to do another test tomorrow morning. There is no skimmer nor a wave maker in the tank. 

 

[Clown79]

By your other posts you were still cycling and high nitrates are a normal occurrence after cycling.

 

Normally we advise 80-100% waterchange for high nitrates  after a tank has cycled but with fish already in the tank you can't do that.

 

 

Using sponges in SW only aids in increasing nutrients. Sponges are used in FW for biological filtration but in Sw we use liverock for that and replace sponges with filter floss changed twice a week.

 

You will need to do larger waterchanges to reduce the nitrates

 

 

[Charith1986]

Yes, looks like the tank is already cycled. I will check a nitrate test in the morning as well.

In that case if its still high is it okay to do another water change immediately ?

[Charith1986]

I did a test in the morning, the results have not changed. Its 100. Do i need to do water changes daily now till it reduce ?

[sadie]

what test kit are you using?

[mipster]

Check your test kit isn't expired first (and that it's a reliable brand), ditch the sponge, do a larger water change.