Meesh
Aquarium Advice Activist
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2016
- Messages
- 163
A few months ago my nitrates in my 20 gallon tank spiked and everyone died before I got it under control. I abandoned the tank, emptying it of water and purchased and set up a (so far successful) 56 gallon tank.
I have refilled the 20 gallon tank with water. I had let the substrate remain. I ran the HOB filter all week and today I did a 25% change and tested the water. Ammonia and nitrites are 0 ppm but nitrates are in excess of 160 ppm. The tester tube turned deep magenta almost immediately.
Do I need to actually empty it, shovel out the gravel, sterilize with bleach and get new substrate?
I'm hoping there is a solution short of that. The gravel is nasty, I don't want to have to handle it or risk scratching the glass.
Thanks!!
I have refilled the 20 gallon tank with water. I had let the substrate remain. I ran the HOB filter all week and today I did a 25% change and tested the water. Ammonia and nitrites are 0 ppm but nitrates are in excess of 160 ppm. The tester tube turned deep magenta almost immediately.
Do I need to actually empty it, shovel out the gravel, sterilize with bleach and get new substrate?
I'm hoping there is a solution short of that. The gravel is nasty, I don't want to have to handle it or risk scratching the glass.
Thanks!!