Hi
I’m having some trouble cycling my new tank this time around. As always I’ve used dr. Tim’s and things were going along nicely. Numbers were going down as they should. Two days ago I threw in a block from my present tank to help with the establishing of the new tank. My nitrates in my present tank have always been high, but never posed an issue. Everybody has always been happy. It’s a 75 gallon with nitrate of 32.
this morning I checked the new tank and the nitrates were at 75. Two days ago they were 20. A friend of mine says that because I didn’t wash the sand that that is why I’m getting high nitrates. I have to admit that there was residue from the sand in the sump and overflow box, so he told me to do a major water change and siphone as much of the sand as I could. I also cleaned the overflow and the sump as best I could.
I changed about 35 gallons of water and I am still getting a reading of 73.5. What is going on. I didn’t have this issue the last time. I was so looking forward to doing my transfer soon. I used special grade sand the last time as well and didn’t have this happen. Please help. I am confused as to what is happening.
Could it be the block from my old tank or is it truly the sand?
I’m having some trouble cycling my new tank this time around. As always I’ve used dr. Tim’s and things were going along nicely. Numbers were going down as they should. Two days ago I threw in a block from my present tank to help with the establishing of the new tank. My nitrates in my present tank have always been high, but never posed an issue. Everybody has always been happy. It’s a 75 gallon with nitrate of 32.
this morning I checked the new tank and the nitrates were at 75. Two days ago they were 20. A friend of mine says that because I didn’t wash the sand that that is why I’m getting high nitrates. I have to admit that there was residue from the sand in the sump and overflow box, so he told me to do a major water change and siphone as much of the sand as I could. I also cleaned the overflow and the sump as best I could.
I changed about 35 gallons of water and I am still getting a reading of 73.5. What is going on. I didn’t have this issue the last time. I was so looking forward to doing my transfer soon. I used special grade sand the last time as well and didn’t have this happen. Please help. I am confused as to what is happening.
Could it be the block from my old tank or is it truly the sand?