Help please!!

Yeah I am always telling the hubby that reef monkey... Go in do everything needed at one time and get out... never know what else is in your skin even if you rinse/wash well....

 

What does this have to do with anything?

 

just asking, cause there is a lot of people getting fined for it in the last little while. one guy got fined over 2mill.

but either way I still vote your test kits are bunged up cause your tank would be dead for sure.

 

Well let me ask this... If in fact it is the test kit (which wouldnt surprise me a bit) why would it show lower nitrates after the water change then go back up when I test an hour or so later?

 

Oh and I want to say a huge thanks to you guys since I couldnt even get a response on the other forum I tried... I am not usually a forum person but I do read them for info all the time.

 

Hmm don't know what to tell you then. From experience anything over 40ppm and you'll see mass bail out and death of inverts, fish will show serious signs of stress.
Your fish IMO would have died when levels neared 1/2 of what you claim they are.

When you do a water change what is the drop in nitrates? ie If you do a 20% water change nitrates go from 160ppm to _______ppm?

 

Well I'd say there is no doubt that you have nitrates, and the test kit is reading them, but they arent that high. if they are, well then you've got some tough fish! but, if your test kit is buggered, it'll read high, I had the same problem with my Alkilinity reading into the 40dkh range, when it was actually only 12dkh

 

Why do you care? Is it your bus?

 

man chill out, is it your bus?
I asked because I was curious, im not the reef police, this forum is for asking questions, and ask i did. so forget it and move on like everyone else has ;D

 

Well lets use last night for example... We shut down the pumps (water drops to low for the high ones during water change) and pulled 30 gallons approximately. Replaced the water with water that has been running for two days (we have a 4 stage RO/DI system that fills a 50 gallon drum) and had been tested all the way around with zelros across the board... Turned the pumps back on, made sure water levels were good in the sump, skimmer, and tank then tested (approx 30 minutes after water change) with a result of approximately 60 (color was between 40 and 80)... Waited an hour and tested with a result of 160.