hk/alk and nitrate problem

speedykeys

speedykeys

AC Members
Oct 23, 2007
89
0
0
Ok so within the last couple weeks ive been taking everyones advice from my other threads and my aquarium has really improved since then. everything looks really healthy and have since got a couple new fish and some anenome. between the last 2 days though ive done a 5g water change (bought from the lfs, i dont mix my own) and have tested my perameters with my new liquid api and salifert kits and im still seeming to have horrible alk and nitrate results. here is what i have:

nitrite 0
nitrate between 50-100!! (tested 3 times w/ api and changes every time)
mg 1260
ph 8.0-8.3 (really hard to tell w/ high range api?)
ammonia 0
salinty 1.025
calcium 440
phosphate 0
kh/alk 12.5/4.46!!

according to my tests my kh/alk and nitrates are rediculusly high and ive been searchin around for some solutions but havnt really found anything besides doing water changes. any other advice would be greatly appreciated. heres a pic by the way to show the improvements of my tank, its looking alot better from 2 weeks ago...

IMG_2832.JPG
 
Actually, that # isn't that terrible high. Alk, that is. The Mg looks good and so does the calcium.

The Nitrates are pretty high, though.

How old is your test kit? Test kits are notorious for going bad.

But, since you nitrates are so high, I'd probably recommend a really good water change. 25%+ maybe, and if your store uses good salt you'll probably get your other numbers a little closer to what you want.
 
Oh, and don't feed so much!

Tank looks really nice, though, BTW. ;)

I wouldn't get yourself stressed out. Just do some water changing.
 
for nitrates, can you please tell us a little more aobut yoru system, such as filtration and mantinence?
Also, where is the LFS getting the water? There are some out there that just pull it from their tanks when THEY do a water change...
I really sould suggest mixing your own. It is just ruling out another party that could mess somethign up somehow.
 
all my test kits are brand new and the lfs gets thier water shipped from san diego, ca. i think he calls it scripps or something. its definitely not old water from thier aquariums they keep it seperate in a huge chamber/tank thing in the back. as far as my system goes, i have all the specs in my signature but the filtration is 3 chambers in the back of the tank the first chamber has 2 large sponges the second has another large sponge, some bio balls and one bag of carbon and one bag of power phos which i change out once a month and the 3rd has the sump and a small heater. i do a 5 g water change every 2 weeks max but normally its more like every 1 1/2 weeks. i suppose i could go for another water change in the next couple days or maybe even tomorrow......i have another question though. that clam you see in the center was getting attacked by a small crab i have last night (the previous pic was from earlier yesterday and the following 2 were taken last night. ive had both the crab and the clam for a while and never saw this happen before. the crab was sticking its claws in and took a chunk out of the mantle. now where ever i move the clam my scarlett and other crabs seem to find it and want to attack it. theres not really any place to hid it since it needs the light. this seems so wierd. should i just get rid of the clam or could things turn out to be ok?

IMG_2837.JPG IMG_2838.JPG
 
i really dont like crabs for that reason... i got a few emeralds before, and never really had good luck with them. the last oen i had would pull at my duncan. and there is no way i'm letting a 7 dollar crab tear appart a 200+ dollar coral. i fed him to my angler :D but the thing that worries me is you say all yoru other hermits are doing the same thing. You are sure the clam was doing well before that? responding (closing) well to light changes and other stimuli. Wasnt gaping nor did it have pinched mantle?
as far as the nitrates, how often do you clean (or replace) those spounges? how filthy are they?
 
i wash the sponges no less than once a month, they always stay fairly clean and normally do it every water change. as far as the clam goes, hes always seemed very heathly responding to any change in light, he closes up any tiome someone bothers him and all that stuff. he actually looks healthy now except he has a chunk missing out of each side of his mantle. i'll take a pic right now and show you, and i also havnt seen a ny of the crabs bothering him in the last day either.if the crabs stop bothering him will his mantle heal back to normal? im going to the lfs today and going to test the water this time. i dont know why i never thought of doin that in the past, the owner just always made it seem like its like the best water or something. i'll let you know what i find. oh yeah i'll add another pic too of the full tank to show the other anenome i got yesterday. i forgot the name of it so if anyone knows please let me know. thanks
 
yes, under good tank conditions and if everythign stops picking, the mantle should heal up in no time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom