High Nitrate in new tank

[Aguasalada]

Hey guys,
My tank had gone through the cycle and was ready for fish last week. I did a 90% water change. All of my chemicals were fine (ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Ph 8.3 and Nitrate 0ppm). I then decided to put in a cleaning crew (7 snails) before I started to put in fish. When I checked my chemicals the Nitrate had gone up to 80ppm. Yesterday I did a 50% water change an the Nitrate went back to near 0ppm. I checked my Nitrates today again and it is somewhere between 40 and 80ppm. Why is this happening? is it the snails? all of the chemicals are ok (ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Ph 8.3). Also, nitrate comes from ammonia and nitrite so how can those be 0 and the nitrate go up so much? I am using tap water and when I check the water the result reads 0ppm.

 

[NYreefNoob]

what are you testing with to get the ppm ? how long has the tank been up ? what kits are you using to test with ? and why did you change out 90% of the water after it cycled ? and truelly doubt tap water is at o ppm, i would suggest getting a ro\di before buy anything else

 

[Scion_TC2005]

Try getting the API Tap Water Filter it is way cheaper and makes good water when you do a slow drip. I have a 5 Stage Typhoon III Extreme RO/DI from Air Water and Ice makes great water, but waste a whole lot of water in the process. I did a comparsion test and both water and they both gave me the same readings The RO/DI water was a tad bit better but not a noticable difference.

If your tank was cycled and reading were good why did you do a 90% water change that will unbalance your tank for a bit.

 

[figgy]

Do yourself a favor. Get yourself a phosphan reactor or two. For both Phosphate and carbon. This will make your life so much easier in the long run. At some point you will need it. rowaphos and some type of carbon(I use Fritz and purigen). Just a suggestion.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Stop doing water changes, let the tank cycle over again, when that happens then you can test and see if your tank is ready for fish.

 

[Aguasalada]

In most of the books/artciles I have read it suggests that you do a large water change after the tank cycles to get rid of all the extra algae and to bring the chems back to normal and get clean water. I am using the API Saltwater Master Test Kit. The result for my regular tap water was yellow which signifies 0ppm. I know there might be traces as it is not 100% accurate but I don't understand why its going up so fast. I will not change the water again and see what happens. I want my tank to be ready for the swap so I can buy some fish ;-( any other suggestions? I really appreciate your help guys.

 

[Reefsaint]

Listen to the Moderator.
Patience is a virtue!
"If you let it cycle proper levels will come!"
Think i heard that in a movie!