General Question

[sshumer14]

Need a little advice from the group. I have a 65 gallon mixed reef with sump, skimmer and refugium. Noticed a big spike in nitrates a couple of weeks ago at 100 ppm and phosphates at .25. Started slow dosing no pox. First week at 3 ml, second week at 6 ml. Not seeing a drop yet but I know it could take weeks. Also dosing ESV 2 part for calcium and alk. After first week I noticed a drop in mag to 1140. Started dosing Red Sea mag at 50 mg per day and have it back up to 1310 and climbing. I tested all parameters today and for the first time in 2 years in the hobby, I have something above 0 for ammonia at .25 on an api test (yes I know they are crap but it’s ammonia, 8 have salifert for the important numbers). Any advice or anything I’m doing wrong??

Full parameters
Phos .03
Nitrates 75 (working on slowly bringing it down)
Cal 420
Alk .84
Mag 1310
PH 8.1
Nitrite 0
Ammonia .25. (Will retest again later)
Salinity 1.025

Thanks for any help!

 

[Ron Reefman]

Is there anything you are doing wrong???

"I tested all parameters today and for the first time in 2 years in the hobby,"

I've been in the hobby for over 20 years and I still test once a week and dose Ca and alk manually every day.

Have you considered a water change? Maybe try a smaller one at first and if it helps at all, consider a bigger one in the very near future.

Did you ever find why the nitrate spike? Anything die in the tank?