Nitrate's too....

[Sandman]

I too am new to this board, and also saltwater..Have done fresh water and ponds, but this is all new to me. My tank is a 55 gallon with about 40lbs of lie sand, 85lbs of various cured live rock, PC lighting, and skimmer with a penguin 400 filter. 2 Damsils and 7 snails, 5 hermit crabs. The tank is 8 weeks old and all my readings are great except for the nitrates, they keep hovering between 30 to 40, not much change even after a water change. They get fed twice a day, using Nutrafin Max flake. The only thing I was told to try was Cycle, but still is the same, been 3 water changes since I started with it. Any or all ideas you folks might have would be appreciated.

 

[spooda420]

you have a filter in the penguin400? thats prolly where the Ates are coming from, i'd stop running an outside filter and do a 25% WC also its still early in the tanks life things are still getting dialed in.

also I dont think its necessary to feed 2x a day, you'll have other problems if you keep that up...

your goal should be 0/0/0 but thats VERY hard. all tanks will have some Ates in them.

make sure you have at least 15x turn over in the tank and a good skimmer the LR/LS should help reduce those numbers,

go slow dont add any more life stock until things get better...

also 30-40 range is not life threating, just irritating to the tennats.

enough sentance fragments for you?

 

[cheeks69]

It's also possible that your tank hasn't fully cycled yet. What are your ammonia and nitrite levels ? I would definitely cut down on the feeding to once every other day remove the sponge because detritus will build up and cause nitrates. IMO I would only use the Penguin to run carbon and invest in a good skimmer. Here's a good link:

Understanding the Nitrogen Cycle: Part 1

Your First Reef aquarium: How to Create a Miniature Coral Reef System at Home

 

[NaH2O]

Sandman - Welcome to Reef Frontiers!!

What size water changes have you done to try to reduce your nitrates? I also agree that you may want to cut back on the feedings.

 

[gkeong]

My nitrates used to be about 20, and after using Nitrate Sponge (a handful), my nitrates went down to <5. My tank is 50g, and I change the Nitrate Sponge every 1.5 months or as needed (testing).

HTH,
Gary

 

[Ritsuko Nashida]

Sounds like the tank might still be a little too new. Feeding the fish that often/much aint helping. Try using RO/DI water for make up water and water changes if your not already doing so. That should take things down for you a notch or two.

 

[Sandman]

Wow, thanks to all of you, gave me some really good ideas to do, and links to check out. Spooda & Nah20, I have been doing between 10 & 20 % changes, alternating them. My nitrites and ammonia are at 0, salitity is 1024. And by the consenses, i'll cut back on the feedings per day. I'll fill you all in when I reach a good low level. Just wanna get it right before adding new tennants and corals......

 

[spooda420]

dont add anything new for a while wait till the bacteria can support the bio load thats in there now.

I feed my fish about 2x a week, the is plenty of food on the LR for them to eat

a tank that eigh weeks old should not have any more than about 1 small fish in there... absolutley no corals. JMO wait at6 months before adding a coral. or until you params are stable.