cannister accidentally unplugged - BB die off?

**Goes to 11!** · 02-10-2013, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by homemadepopcorn

It most likely won't be an issue.

+1 Possibly true.

Remain calm - Keep an eye on your parameters & carry on. If you have a mini-cycle act accordingly but don't panic preemptively. [You knew this already -P]

**fishmommie** · 02-10-2013, 11:59 PM

again, thanks all. No panic. Just upset with myself

**Shidohari** · 02-11-2013, 12:35 AM

at least you caught it before all the water would have dried out. I'm sure everything will be fine fishmommie. You're very good at monitoring your water readings so i'm sure that it will be resolved soon.

**fishmommie** · 02-11-2013, 06:45 PM

Looks like I dodged a bullet. Ammonia and nitrites are both 0 today with no additional water change. Nitrates however are a bit high - pushing 40 - and this is after a 60% w/c and vac on Friday.

Seems to me the nitrates should not be affected if there was a BB die off so I'm not sure what's going on there. Ideas?

I will say that ever since I removed my UGF (which was supposed to help lower the nitrates) the nitrates have risen. Still wondering if I should add an additional filter.

I'm running a Cascade 1200 - all trays filled with bio max and either floss or a sponge. Aquean 75/50 (rated for a 100 gal) is filled with floss and bio max.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

**Strider199** · 02-12-2013, 12:00 AM

Do you have live plants in that tank fishmommie? I love life plants but I did notice that my nitrate level was always higher after I put them in. I tried to lessen their feeding thinking it was the liquid fert's which was involved but I cant say either way if it was.
Maybe do another large water change and they will go back down. See what happens from there. Are all your stock accounted for?

**Cermet** · 02-12-2013, 12:19 AM

There could be a good bit of organic matter built up in the canister and it has been actted on by bacteria that uses little oxygen and this broke the waste down into nitrates. See if they do down but if not, clean the canister filter - you may find a good bit of organics there.

**fishmommie** · 02-12-2013, 12:22 AM

Originally Posted by Strider199

Do you have live plants in that tank fishmommie? I love life plants but I did notice that my nitrate level was always higher after I put them in. I tried to lessen their feeding thinking it was the liquid fert's which was involved but I cant say either way if it was.
Maybe do another large water change and they will go back down. See what happens from there. Are all your stock accounted for?

Hey . thanks for checking in. my sevs would never allow plants. LOL I do have a big bunch of floating hornwort but that's it - I added it in hopes of keeping nitrate levels low. And yes, all fishies and snails are alive and well. I'll test again in the morning and if the trates are still high, I'll do another W/C The more I think about it, if I did have some BB die off, guess it would stand to reason the trates might spike a bit until things equalize again.
Or does that not make sense?

**fishmommie** · 02-12-2013, 12:25 AM

Originally Posted by Cermet

There could be a good bit of organic matter built up in the canister and it has been actted on by bacteria that uses little oxygen and this broke the waste down into nitrates. See if they do down but if not, clean the canister filter - you may find a good bit of organics there.

thanks Cermet. I just cleaned it a couple of weeks ago so it shouldn't have accumulated much waste, but, with it being off for several hours, perhaps it created some issues. I'll test again in the am and if trates are still on the high side, do another w/c and keep monitoring. Hopefully, they'll drop back down to 10 which is what they usually are