Nitrate problems??

[sharkbaitx2]

It seems as if every other area has already been covered. My random testing showed nearly perfect areas except for nitrates which were in the 35-40 range - I quickly did a water change. 5 gal for a 70 gal tank. Naturally I didn't repeat the test yet but it seemed to help one of my soft corals that might have been suffering (temporarily). Is there anything else to do to lower this besides H20 changes and is a 5 gallon change adequate for this size tank? Thanks.

 

[DonW]

I dont think 5 gallons is going to do much. With any detectable nitrates I'd do 15 gallons on that size of tank. How old is it?? Why do you have nitrates??

Don

 

[reedman]

Don hit the nail on the head. What is causing the nitrates?

How long has the tank been established?

Do you use a skimmer? Is it clean? Is it producing skimmate?

Tell us some more about your tank and we'll try to give you some advice.

-Reed

 

[cwcross]

yea, 5 gallons in 70 isn't much. Only 5/70= 7%. So nitrates will be reduced to 93% of original...35*.93=32.5 or so. Not enough, unless you do it everyday for about a week or two...C

 

[sharkbaitx2]

Well that was my second question - why the high nitrates?

55 gal tank with about a 15 gal fuge housing about 6 fish and a cleaner shrimp, mostly softies; mushrooms, zoos, frog sprawn, leathers. A skimmer runs 24/7, full lighting for about 10 hours. The tank cycled last January. Apparently that 5 gal exchange every month isn't nearly enough even though the skimmer is running constantly and putting out skimmate. Any other ideas why just the nitrates are high? Think its about time to go "make" some more water for a change.

 

[NaH2O]

sharkbaitx2 - how often and what are you feeding? How much live rock do you have in the tank or do you have bioballs? Lastly, what are your husbandry practices (ie. siphon out detritus, blow off the live rock, stir up substrate, etc)?

 

[sharkbaitx2]

nitrates

Hi Nikki,

In response to your questions, how often and what is their food? Mostly Mysis shrimp twice a day with a good slurry 2-3 times a week.

How much live rock? Combining the main tank and the sump-approx. 40-45 lbs.

Yes, there are also about 16-18 bioballs in a chamber of the sump.

Yes, detritus is siphoned out with the water changes,the rock is blown off with my favorite reef tool - the turkey "blaster" and as far as stirring up the substrate (1-2'' of sand) - the orange spotted gobie takes care of that.

Iodine and calcium are added weekly/daily as well as DT's when I can afford it.

 

[cwcross]

Hi Nikki,

In response to your questions, how often and what is their food? Mostly Mysis shrimp twice a day with a good slurry 2-3 times a week.

How much live rock? Combining the main tank and the sump-approx. 40-45 lbs.

Yes, there are also about 16-18 bioballs in a chamber of the sump.

Yes, detritus is siphoned out with the water changes,the rock is blown off with my favorite reef tool - the turkey "blaster" and as far as stirring up the substrate (1-2'' of sand) - the orange spotted gobie takes care of that.

Iodine and calcium are added weekly/daily as well as DT's when I can afford it.

You are feeding about twice as much as I do and have 1/2 the rock. Thus you have about 4 times the load on your system as I do.

I have a 75 with a 15 gallon fuge, feed once per day of shrimp or bloodworms or occasionally a little flake (or often times every-other-day). I also have about 90 lbs of LR.

 

[cwcross]

You are feeding about twice as much as I do and have 1/2 the rock. Thus you have about 4 times the load on your system as I do.

I have a 75 with a 15 gallon fuge, feed once per day of shrimp or bloodworms or occasionally a little flake (or often times every-other-day). I also have about 90 lbs of LR.

Oops. I see you have a 55 with a 15, not a 70 with a 15. Load wouldn't be 4x then, maybe 2x...sorry...C

 

[reedman]

How old is the rock? Could it be saturated and thus not breaking down the nitrates efficiently?

I agree on the feeding. Unless you are keeping something that requires a twice a day feeding, I would cut back to once a day at most. If the fish are not juvenile, you could go every other day occasionally without a worry.

 

[NaH2O]

Let us know how things go after the water changes and reducing your feedings.

I do wonder how much the bio-balls are contributing to the issue. Have you ever thought about removing them slowly to see if that helps, and replacing with more live rock?

 

[MikeS]

Are you using tap water or RO/DI water?

MikeS

 

[LakeEd]

Sharkbaitx,

I bought my 75gal SeaClear System II tank used. It is the type of tank with a Built-In filter in the back of the tank. That was loaded with bio-balls, the return pump, heater, and a sea-clown protien skimmer. It was a Fish-Only tank... so no live rock.

When I set it up at home, I originally changed out about 50% of the water... tested, and everything was mostly okay concidering the move. I set out and purchase 80lbs of Live Rock... and sit back waiting to be able to begin my reef.

As the weeks continued... my maintenance consisted of a 7 gallon water change every week, cleaning the crushed coral substrait, turkey baisting the rock... basically what I thought should be good husbandry.

Each week, my NitrAtes continued rising. My innitial setup, NitrAtes were at 5. Then, they went up to 10... 15... 25.... 50. All this time, Ammonia and NitrItes were 0.

I found Reef Frontiers... and started reading. The more I read, the more I found that what I new from having a Salt-Water Fish Tank 15 years ago had changed drastically. Back then, Bio-Balls were the "NEW" thang. Now... they definately aren't... its the rock doing your biofiltration for you. So, I slowly removed my Bio Balls... 1/4 each week.

While doing this... I continue monitoring my NitrAtes. Weekly water changes were keeping them at about 50. At least nothing was rising anymore... so that was good. Then... I get the last of them out of my tank... and monitor for another 3 week... and much to my surprise... NitrAtes drop drop drop!!!

Okay... with all this banter... I guess I'm adding my suggestion that you think about removing your Bio-Balls, and hopefully that along with decreasing your feeding will help with lowering your levels as it did mine.

Ed

 

[sharkbaitx2]

High Nitrates

I've been using RO/DI water since day 1 - so thats been eliminated.

OK, Nikki and Ed I'll start removing the bioballs in the morning -"and they were such a pretty color". A larger water change will also take place in the am. I did some reading tonight and found the number that I was looking for - 25%- its the suggested amount of water that should be changed out every month. I didn't know this!
Nor was I aware that insufficient water changes will cause: an increase in nitrates, a decrease in ph, a decrease in buffering capacity, a concentration of phosphates AND a reduction in various trace elements. Not to mention the obvious - an increase in organic compounds. WOW!! I've got to start reading again. I guess it wouldn't hurt to put the critters on a bit of a diet.

I expect a pretty significant improvement and will keep the board aware. Thanks

 

[LakeEd]

Sharkbaitx,

I also expect you'll be very happy with the added waterchanges... and how the lower NitrAtes will help everything in your tank!!! Bestest wishes for yas!!!!

Ed