Testing nitrates?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
esoxlucius said:
Hmmm, it does sound like you've somehow upset your bio side, i'm not sure how though. Since your original post on 9th August there's been a lot of changes in your tank what with adding a new fish and getting to grips with your elevated nitrate levels by way of larger more frequent water changes.

Have you added any new decor, in particular rocks or new substrate? What is the overall volume of water in your system? A smaller volume of water isn't as forgiving as a large volume when changes in your tank are going on. I don't know how you do your water changes, how you add your prime, or how your filters are set up, is it possible that a flush of untreated water got in your filters?
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Yeah I’ve been on quite the learning curve these last few weeks lol. I’m trying to get everything under control but it hasn’t been easy. It is 150gals. I start filling the tank till it’s about half of the amount I’m adding then pour in the prime to finish filling up. I turn off the filters until it’s full. So I guess there could have been untreated water that got in the filter. Haven’t added any decor or substrate.
 
Rocksor said:
Cloudiness (aka bacterial bloom) is a result of higher concentration of organic compundsversus the amount of heterotrophic bacteria in the aquarium system. Adding new fish 2 weeks ago can cause this to happen (higher bioload and/or increased feeding). It doesn't necessarily mean that you will have or have had an ammonia spike. I haven't had this happen (cloudiness) to an establish system that received large water changes.
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Is the bacterial bloom something that can harm the fish? And how do I fix it?
 
Peacock_bass said:
Added another filter. Not taking one out for a new one. I had one aqua top canister. I just added a fluval FX4. I was doing 50-60% once a week but the nitrates were staying high. So I was doing 40-50% every other day to get those numbers down. Every water change I used prime with the new water added for conditioning.
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Ive experienced similar bacterial blooms when adding a brand new filter with brand new media to an established system. Shouldnt last long and harmless ime. Frequent water changes usually expedite the process.
 
Backfromthedead said:
Ive experienced similar bacterial blooms when adding a brand new filter with brand new media to an established system. Shouldnt last long and harmless ime. Frequent water changes usually expedite the process.
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That's good to hear! Hopefully that is all I have going on. Thanks for the info!
 
The increased bacteria in the water column can deplete O2. If you can increase surface aggitation to help increase oxygenation.
 
Peacock_bass said:
It is 150gals. I start filling the tank till it’s about half of the amount I’m adding then pour in the prime to finish filling up.
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Just a tip, add enough Prime to dose all 150 gallons before you start refilling the tank.

1. Empty the amount of water desired for a water change.
2. Add enough Prime for 150 gallons.
3. Refill
 
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FIU Panther said:
Just a tip, add enough Prime to dose all 150 gallons before you start refilling the tank.

1. Empty the amount of water desired for a water change.
2. Add enough Prime for 150 gallons.
3. Refill
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Oh ok. I did not realize I should be dosing for the whole 150gals! Thanks!
 
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