.OptimusPrime.

Latest readings : Ammonia - 0ppm Nitrite - 0ppm Nitrate - 25-50ppm

I should have checked before I left this morning but I forgot. I did end up buy LR from a fellow member. 15#s of the stuff, however my nitrite was coming down when I went to pick it up anyway. Last Friday it was 0.50ppm and then on Sunday before the rock pick up it was at 0.25ppm.

Does this mean what I think it means???

I'll hopefully be picking up some LR later this week. Do I just throw the rock in there? or would I have to do enough of a water change to get the nitrites to be back to acceptable levels before putting the rock in? I'd hate to spend money on good rock only for it go to waste.

With the nitrite being so high...will it make any difference??

So a week later and still high nitrite.. Think its time to dump all the water and start over and seed with a piece of giant LR... I am all outta ideas at this point.

Is it possible I don't have enough beneficial bacteria to help with the nitrites? I'm sure the 40G water change did nothing to help that cause either. <div><br></div><div>Is there a way to add more bacteria? I know you said LR will probably push back the cycle, but probably wont hurt either right?<br></div><div><br></div><div>Still trying to be patient and let the nitrites drop.</div>

Awesome. Nice work with the pvc overflow

I am assuming the water level in the overflow box was too high and water just flowed right one end and over and out the other without really being sucked into the drain. I dropped the water level a little bit to where its a tiny waterfall (if that makes sense) over the teeth. Its got a slight noise, but nothing I'm concerned with.

Figured out the overflow problem. No more film on top of the water :D Nitrate and Nitrate are still off the charts though. :( Happened to stop by a LFS to see what livestock they had and to retest my just in case my saliferts were wrong. They reported the same thing. High nitrites/trates. They actually suggested I buy a couple of cheap fish to toss in the tank to help get a bioload going. (Don't worry I didn't buy any, I know better than to use fish to help cycle) And also after a mishap this weekend, went and ordered my AVAST ATO. At least I have something to look forward to

Thanks for the help Guess its back to the waiting game. Still havent figured out the flow thing yet. Now all the film is on one side of the tank. Is there any reason why the overflow isn't skimming it away? Drain is a 1.5" full siphon. Too high water level at the teeth?

Got it. Maybe I should get some LR to seed the dry since I'm still in cycle apparently. No harm done right?

oh dear god, please don't tell me that!

Well I did another 20G change. Time to wait and see what happens. I'll try and adjust the flow from the PHs like you said. Theres lots of chucks.. of stuff floating around that I would assume would skim into the overflow box and down to the micro sock that just doesnt seem to happen. They just float from side to side. Tested the water before I changed it. Both Nitrites and Nitrates were on the high end of the scale. I'm going to bang my head into the tank if I cant figure this thing out.

Welcome!

Ok, so it might not be debris off the rocks and stuff since it looks like its coming out of the returns, which would mean I have microbubble problems. Could it be caused by the skimmer? I don't remember having such a problem when I didn't have my skimmer up and running. Might pick up some filter pad/floss and stick it inside the bubble trap and see if it does anything.

there seems to be a film on top of the water that I cant seem to get rid of as well as massive amounts of small particles. Do I not have enough skimming of the surface of the water? I already have 2 - evo 750s at opposite ends of the tank I figured that would be enough. I have 200 micron felt socks that I swap out every couple of days but nothing seems to get rid of them. I know I used all dry rock and should expect particles to come of the rock, but dang this is just ridiculous.

Sounds good to me. Maybe I can pick up a few more trockisms Water still reads 100ppm. My RO/DI water reads what looks to be 0-2ppm. a very slight hue. I give it a day or two more before i do another 20G on Friday.

LOL..man does everyone like 2 better?? I might end up changing it. Thanks for offer. I'll hold ya to it once I get this nitrate thing down. Nope it was all 100 % dry reef saver from BRS. Guess I'll wait it out and see what happens.

Yup still 100ppm. that deep dark purple. all the way to right of the scale. Sump is back in and has been for about a week. No macro or fuge. Skimmer is on, but hasn't been pulling anything. I have set on a dry skim. The bubbles are right below the neck of the skimmer (between the min/max water level signs on the skimmer) with no bubbles flowing into the collection cup. ....should I open the valve up more and try for wetter skim? Hopefully that isn't my issue or else Im going to bang my head against the wall I haven't checked the water coming out of the RO/DI unit, will do so when I get home.

Checked again this morning before leaving for work. Everything was normal except the nitrates. still off the charts based on the salifert test kit. I'll wait a few more days and see if there are any changes. I have another 20G of mixed saltwater ready to go. I was reading that Davelin was having nitrate trouble as well that he cant get it to settle and it was mentioned to vodka/vinegar/sugar dose. So I decided to read up on it and it seems like its fairly easy to do, but also to overdose. Since I'm just starting out, don't have any fish or coral, would it be beneficial for me to try this method. I read the articles over at Melevs reef and reefkeeping. Only other option might be doing a water change this way: http://www.melevsreef.com/reducing_nitrates.html

LOL...I like it too for the open space but then I think I dont have enough room for fish to hide and coral placement in the future. Since its just one giant piece I can always remove it later I changed the water on Early saturday morning 20G of fresh mixed water at 1.025 (heated /mixed overnight). Checked the water parameters again today and nitrates are still showing at 100ppm. Far right on my salifert test kit. I'd say it looks even more of a dark purple than whats on the chart. Does it take longer for the nitrates to go down? All other parameters are in check. No ammonia. no phosphates. pH is in check. Don't have a nitrite kit.

Went with #3 and since its one giant rock I can move it out if I ever don't like the look. After getting the skimmer up and running for 2 days now tested water parameters and everything was in check except nitrates. The color on the test said 100ppm. Filling up my 20G brute for a water change. Will 20G be enough? Should I wait a few days after the water change to add fish?

Got around to working on the sump again today. While I wait for the baffle silicone to finish curing, I played around with rock work. Which option is best? Option 1: Option 2: Option 3:

Was cutting the baffles inside the sump when the bottom cracked....FML.... Is petco still have their $1/gal sale??? The dimensions on the tank look to be a 20L.