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10/03/2010, 08:26 AM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 271
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Nitrates
I have read on here how a lot of people have trouble with high nitrate levels. I have a 90 gallon tank and a 55 gallon sump. I have 5 fish and a bunch of inverts. My sump has cheato growing in it. I have probably 90lbs or more of live rock. My tank has been up and running almost 9 mos now. My test kit has NEVER shown even a trace of nitrate..bright yellow in the test tube. I occasionally get some green ball algae and had a hair algae phase early on, but ever since, no major issues. I use RO/DI water. Am I lucky? Is it the chaeto? I only do a water change, on average, once every other month (about 30 gal). Just curious on what I am doing right so I can keep it up. I do plan on adding about 3-4 more fish over time.
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10/03/2010, 08:54 AM
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#2 |
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Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Naples, FL
Posts: 3,345
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Might want to double check your tests with another kit or your LFS, but chaeto can remove nitrates quite well. As can water changes.
Jeff |
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10/03/2010, 08:58 AM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 271
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Well, I have seen nitrates show up before....on my QT tank when first getting it up and going. So I know the kit does catch them when present.
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10/04/2010, 04:25 AM
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#4 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Sydney
Posts: 480
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90g, 55g sump, 5 fish. MINI bioload.
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10/04/2010, 07:00 AM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
 Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Garden Grove, Ca
Posts: 17,023
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By using good ro/di water and having a refugium, you are doing all the right things. The two tanks that I run with refugiums never show traces of nitrates unless there is a problem in the tank. Keep up the good work.
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10/04/2010, 08:11 AM
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#6 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Fresno,Ca.
Posts: 2,545
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Like the previous post said you have a small bio-load right now so you can get by with less water changes. It took me 20 yrs. as an aquarists to finally learn to lightly stock my tanks. There is a tendency in this hobby to see how many fish we can pack in a tank. My fish are happy with the extra room and I dont have as much maintenance to do. Keep an eye on things when you start adding more fish.
Dave |
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10/04/2010, 08:25 AM
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#7 | |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Key Largo, FL
Posts: 1,008
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Quote:
Yup.
__________________
Current Main Tank Info: 375g display + 120g fuge 2 Tunze 6105's with 7106 multi controller - Reeflo Orca 200 Skimmer with Pro Cup - 4 AI Sol Blue Led Modules Perc Clowns, Mystery Wrasse, Kole Tang, Purple Tang, Diamond Watchman, Cleaner Shrimp, Tiger Pistol Shrimp, Wheelers Shrimp Goby, Bullet Goby, Purple Carpet, Red/Green Open Brains, Candy Canes, Hammer Coral, Green Orange Blue Pink & Yellow Ricordea, Orange Tube Coral, Several Multicolor Zoos, Button Polyps, & Several Multicolor Shrooms |
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10/04/2010, 09:29 AM
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#8 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 653
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I'm sure that I overfeed, but watching them eat is the best part for me. Not only that, but I only get a few minutes in front of the tank, so for those couple minutes, food brings every one out for me to see them.
As a result, I'm chasing nitrates! |
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