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CrimsRayne View Drop Down
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Joined: July 19 2007
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    Posted: November 13 2007 at 11:08am
Does anyone have a good way of fixing a nitrate spike?  I already did a major water change but the levels are still way too high (about 60mg/L) (everything else is within the norms.  No nitrites)
Levels were normal last week.  I think the spike was from my engineer goby loss.  I haven't seen him in about a week, but he lives under the rocks. 
Tank specs:
125 gallon
sump with protein skimmer and uv
was FOWLR till last month or so, added some softies and low light coral
my cleaner shrimp is ok, I've heard they are the first to go if you have big troubles.
 
Has anyone tried the nitrate absorbers?  Do they work?
Please help.  Most of the fish seem ok for now but there are some that look stressed out. 
"What we know from this hobby is too hard to share with the people who just want to look and not get wet." -Rioreefer

"The Puffer Girl"

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West Jordan
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Adam Blundell View Drop Down
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Points: 18526 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Adam Blundell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 13 2007 at 11:12am
I already did a major water change but the levels are still way too high (about 60mg/L)
Does your test kit measure in mg/L?
 
Adam
Come to a meeting, they’re fun!
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CrimsRayne View Drop Down
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Points: 1815 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CrimsRayne Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 13 2007 at 11:46am
That's what it says.  I use the quick dip strips.  It gives a color scale and a number above each.  goes from white to dark pink/redish.  My stip is med pink by comparison.  which falls between the colors for 40 and 80.  Do you think I got a bad kit?  I've only evey used these kind (except for calcium and alk/ph).  Recommendations?
"What we know from this hobby is too hard to share with the people who just want to look and not get wet." -Rioreefer

"The Puffer Girl"

Zoo freak :)

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Mike Savage View Drop Down
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Points: 19173 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike Savage Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 13 2007 at 11:57am
An established 125 should be able to handle a dead fish with little problem. I would take a sample of water to The Aquarium and have them test it for Nitrates unless you trust that test kit.
 
Mike


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Debbles View Drop Down
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Joined: January 07 2007
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Originally posted by Mike Savage Mike Savage wrote:

An established 125 should be able to handle a dead fish with little problem. I would take a sample of water to The Aquarium and have them test it for Nitrates unless you trust that test kit.
 
Mike
 
I agree.  When we were using test strips every once in a while we would have a very weird reading so we would take a sample to a LFS and things were always ok.  Needless to say we quit using the strips. 
 
DebBig%20smile


Edited by frednwilma1999 - November 13 2007 at 12:08pm
Yes Mikey...I still have fins!!!
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jeffras View Drop Down
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I have never had reliable results from the quicktest strips? You may want to try the test kits that people have been saying are as good as salifert (can't remember the brand) or take it in to a LFS. My guess is that your water is not that bad. How does the livestock look? They should be stressed at that level IMO.
Jeff Rasmussen

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CrimsRayne View Drop Down
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Points: 1815 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CrimsRayne Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 13 2007 at 1:12pm

I thought the fish would be WAY more stressed with the levels it says I have.  My 6in porc puffer is the only one that seems troubled, and he isn't too unhappy.  Even the ray is acting normal. 

These are a different type of strip than what I had been using, so maybe they aren't any good afterall.  I'll take a sample to the aquarium tonight.  If everything is good, maybe I can get that boy ray they have afterall.  Clap
I tested the water when I got home last night cause I wanted to get him, but try to make sure the tank is still ok before adding new fish. 
"What we know from this hobby is too hard to share with the people who just want to look and not get wet." -Rioreefer

"The Puffer Girl"

Zoo freak :)

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BobC63 View Drop Down
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Joined: January 17 2007
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Points: 8975 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BobC63 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 13 2007 at 1:17pm
Originally posted by jeffras jeffras wrote:

I have never had reliable results from the quicktest strips? You may want to try the test kits that people have been saying are as good as salifert (can't remember the brand) or take it in to a LFS. My guess is that your water is not that bad. How does the livestock look? They should be stressed at that level IMO.
 
API (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals)...
 
A nO3 kit is under $10
 
"spot on with Slaifert" as far as readings go Thumbs%20Up
- My Current Tank: 50g Starfire Cube Reef


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