Nitrate at 80

If you have a sump ? then simply set up a NO3 coil safe and very effective . I've always ran one and in over 40 yrs never any NO3 issues . NO3 like PO4's are a given we all have them its a must to see NO3 levels rise as long as the denitryfing process is happening . Its the last link in the chain to deal with thats why your is so high they have been doing their job keeping the Ammonia and nitrites cleared out of the system.

 

Well, it seems you have the advice you require already – and I strongly suggest you follow Tangster, the coil is cheap and effective.

Did you think to test your water prior to adding your purchases? Tanks do not just jump to 80 N03 over night. If your bio load was/is too much you would still be showing signs of the cycle in it earlier stages – NH4 and N02. I suspect this spike has nothing to do with your additions and was pre-existing. I would suggest you start with water changes as suggested, run a nitrate sponge and set up a coil for the future. Since this post is now a week old, can you update as to what you did and how you are making out?

 

Thank you for all of your replies. Crimson - Yes, I did think to check my levels prior to putting stuff in the tank and nitrates, nitrites, ammonia were at 0, ph 8.4, salt 1.024. We tested the tank 4 days after getting the livestock, nitrate was high, but everything else was 0, and the salt and ph stayed the same, and still are. So no, they didn't spike overnight, they spiked over 4 days. We did take the advice and do a partial water change, and it did reduce the nitrates, but only to 40, which is what they are at now. The livestock seems to be doing very well. Our fox coral has grown, bubble coral is big and leathers look healthy. The fish also seem happy and are eating well.

We think we have anerobic bacteria in our tank, so I think that one of the posts was correct in terms of the tank recycling. We blow the bubbles off of the rock and try not to let any of them settle. We are very upset, but I think sometimes people forget that everyone was new at this at one point - all we can do is watch the tank and take care as best we can.

If anyone has any more suggestions, we would really appreciate, as we do not want to lose any of our livestock. Thanks again for the replies.

We do have a protein skimmer, but not a sump.

 

get a hang on the back refugium, it cycles the tank fast in a different way with macro algae.
Or if you can add a sump which is best put the refugium there. they are more effective than reactors but youll still need to run carbon.
good luck, in time it will be easy
and do not get any more tank mates until problem is solved