Newbie Needs Help

This is what I started with. 2 year old 40 breeder with 40 pounds live rock. Live Sand Bed. 10 gallon sump. 1 small eibli tang. Ocellaris Clown. Frogspawn.
Test results before any additions all normal according to LFS just .25 ppm phosphate.

Over the last three weeks I added, 1 medium b/g chromis, 3 red shroom. 3 zoo frags (10 polyps each). 2 rics. I tested my own water today these are the results:

PH: 8.0
Ammonia:0
Nirate: 160!
Nitrite:0
Phos:0
Calcium:420
Salinity: 1.022

I am worried about my nitrates. The water in the test tube turned blood red which is the highest the test goes. I did a ten percent water change this morning per LFS and just tested this evening. Is this normal for the livestock I added? Should I be worried. HELP ME FOLKS!!!

 

I forgot to mention I did move my rocks all around to get rid of a nuissance goby. ALOT OF DETERIUS debris went swirling around but were filtered out by filter bag and pad. Water is clear now.

 

Do you know your nitrate level from 3 weeks ago? It is normal to spike nitrate after adding new fish but 160 is way too high for 1 fish and a few softies. I suggest to do larger water change like 50%. Reduce feeding and monitor your nitrate daily.

 

nitrate were at 0 if the LFS told me correctly

 

Replace the filter ASAP.

 

Equipments? I really doubt 0 nitrate. It's really hard to get 0 nitrate under normal circumstances.

 

was replaced about 12 hours after the cleaning

 

NO3 reduction is proportional to water change %. Meaning changing 50% of your systems total volume will reduce your NO3 by 50%. The 10% w/c you did really had a useful impact on your levels. I'd check that you did the test correctly, check that it hasn't expired, take 2 samples of water-test 1 w/ your kit-have your lfs test the other and compare results. Hope this helps a little.

 

you need to do a 50% water change now. 50% in 2 days. and another 50% 2 days after that.. and report back.. dont feed, and dont move anything around.. also test your NEW water for nitrates if using tap water..

after that 3rd water change it should be down around 20-40ppm nitrates.. clean out all filters DAILY for the rest of your life.

 

Went to the LFS. Tests were confirmed accurate. Did 40% water change (didnt have anymore containers) Night-Rida im going out of town on thursday for three days. Do you think another 40% thursday morning would be ok?