Hi RS friends -
Three quick questions- I have made a cardinal sin of putting what I was told to be cured live rock in to my tank - I mean it was colorful but a nitrate spike is under way and a water change clued my into something new - when even a small piece of the new stuff was exposed... it STUNK! I've exposed live rock with a water change before and have not niticed the smell. I can only assume it needs some additioon curing - but too late it is in the tank. It was about 40 lbs added to a 180 gallon tank that already had 250-300 lbs of rock. The tank is about 5 years old - well established.
So nitrate spike to the 20-30 range I did 2 30% water changes over two days. Brought Nitrate back to about 10ppm (Ammonia is 0.25ppm) and Nitrite is 0 ppm.
Added some fresh bacteria (Cycle and stresszyme)
Question 1 - is this just a matter of water changes ever 3 days for a while or should I be more concerned? I'm used to Nitrates at or near zero.
Question 2 - all 6 of my cleaner shrimp died rather suddenly - (salienity/temp stress)? No other fish problems - coral bandit and emerald crabs seem ok.
Question 3 - About 6 months ago I switch to 14k HQI bulbs - while I like the color I see less coraline algea on the walls (that I do not clean) - should I go back to 10k halides (3X150W HQI) (+ current 5 X 65 watt atinic PC bulbs)?
Thank you for your input/advice. Been a LONG time since I have had a minor crisis.
George
Three quick questions- I have made a cardinal sin of putting what I was told to be cured live rock in to my tank - I mean it was colorful but a nitrate spike is under way and a water change clued my into something new - when even a small piece of the new stuff was exposed... it STUNK! I've exposed live rock with a water change before and have not niticed the smell. I can only assume it needs some additioon curing - but too late it is in the tank. It was about 40 lbs added to a 180 gallon tank that already had 250-300 lbs of rock. The tank is about 5 years old - well established.
So nitrate spike to the 20-30 range I did 2 30% water changes over two days. Brought Nitrate back to about 10ppm (Ammonia is 0.25ppm) and Nitrite is 0 ppm.
Added some fresh bacteria (Cycle and stresszyme)
Question 1 - is this just a matter of water changes ever 3 days for a while or should I be more concerned? I'm used to Nitrates at or near zero.
Question 2 - all 6 of my cleaner shrimp died rather suddenly - (salienity/temp stress)? No other fish problems - coral bandit and emerald crabs seem ok.
Question 3 - About 6 months ago I switch to 14k HQI bulbs - while I like the color I see less coraline algea on the walls (that I do not clean) - should I go back to 10k halides (3X150W HQI) (+ current 5 X 65 watt atinic PC bulbs)?
Thank you for your input/advice. Been a LONG time since I have had a minor crisis.
George