High nitrate levels

enw1229 · 09/09/2015, 02:34 PM

I was recently put in charge of my college's saltwater tank. It is a small tank ~20 gallons and has a few starfish and snails in it. Yesterday I took some water tests and found that the nitrate levels were upwards of 200 ppm. What is the best way to deal with this issue, and where should I start with this tank to get it to a place where fish could live in it? I attached some pictures that I took as well.

shifty51008 · 09/09/2015, 03:15 PM

To Reef Central

To be honest i would find someone to take the starfish and snails and just start from scratch. Also those test strips are horrriable in sw tanks so look for diff test kits, i like salifert.

How much do you know about keeping fish tanks?

Dkuhlmann · 09/09/2015, 03:16 PM

What I would do with that tank dump it out and start over. Honestly there is nothing in it worth keeping. You have no live rock for filtration no fish, and that chocolate chip starfish is why you don't have anything in there. They will eat anything that is alive including fish.

What is there for filtration?

joshkirkland83 · 09/09/2015, 03:23 PM

Definitely start over, that is one rough looking tank.

enw1229 · 09/09/2015, 03:30 PM

I would have to talk to the heads of the biology dept. before I could get rid of all the starfish and such. I used to work at PetSmart so I have a good bit of experience with freshwater fish.
For filtration, there is just one filter that hangs on the side of the tank and trickles down (I think its called a power filter?).
Is there anything I can do to save this tank without completely starting over? I don't want to do that but will if I have to.

shifty51008 · 09/09/2015, 03:34 PM

If you dont want to start over or its not a choice i would buy 20lbs of fully cured lr and do a 75% water change, scrapeing off the glass and syphoning out the sand. Change the filters in your power filter and get test kits for ammonia and a new kit for nitrates.

Dkuhlmann · 09/09/2015, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shifty51008

If you dont want to start over or its not a choice i would buy 20lbs of fully cured lr and do a 75% water change, scrapeing off the glass and syphoning out the sand. Change the filters in your power filter and get test kits for ammonia and a new kit for nitrates.

I would do this accept do 100% water change. Then go trade in the starfish for store credit. Keep the snails.

heathlindner25 · 09/09/2015, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shifty51008

If you dont want to start over or its not a choice i would buy 20lbs of fully cured lr and do a 75% water change, scrapeing off the glass and syphoning out the sand. Change the filters in your power filter and get test kits for ammonia and a new kit for nitrates.

Solid advice.....and are those mannequins in the tank with panties on?

CStrickland · 09/09/2015, 08:19 PM

That's pretty rough. In a SW tank the filtration is mainly biological, bacteria that live in the rocks and sand consume waste from the animals and convert it into non-toxic forms. Anything hanging on the sides of the tank is supplemental, trying to catch bigger chunks so you can take them out. But in a SW tank that can work against you b/c when crud is trapped where the flow is high (like a filter) only some of the bacteria can thrive. The waste (ammonia) gets converted as far as nitrates, but not the rest of the way to a gas that leaves the tank. You don't have nearly as much rock as most, I wouldn't go less than 3/4# per gallon and some go a lot more.

That kind of gravelly sand can also raise nitrates by trapping crud in it if it isn't cleaned with a vacuum hose. Replacing it with something finer can help.

What about getting a cheap 5 gallon tank and moving the survivors into it with some of that gravel and sand, breaking this one down to start fresh and then adding them back? Maybe another student / faculty has an old fish tank you could use as a temporary home. Really by the time you've done big water changes, replaced the substrate and gotten some rocks cycled you might as well have just dumped it, scrubbed it and started fresh.

Here's some info on the sea star you have http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume...e_6_2/choc.htm to help you decide whether youll keep him

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathlindner25

are those mannequins in the tank with panties on?

wut?

Shawn O · 09/10/2015, 08:32 AM

Give the snails and starfish to someone who's willing to take them.
Empty the tank, clean it with vinegar, rinse and repeat.
Dump the gravel and replace with 20lbs of sand (not live).
Add 20lbs of rock (50/50 live and dead rock).
Buy 20 gallons of pre-mixed seawater.
Buy a HOB filter such as an Aquaclear, Aquatop or Marineland rated for 30-50 gallons and change the filter frequently.
Add a few snails and hermits after it cycles (read the "setting up" stickies about cycling).
Add a few fish, one or two per month.
Enjoy.

Mark9 · 09/10/2015, 08:51 AM

That tank looks nasty.
Like everybody else says, a do-over is in order.
Empty it, clean it, get some rock, sand, do a cycle, etc.
Read the stickies.

Shawn O · 09/10/2015, 11:33 AM

If talking to the biology department heads doesn't get you very far, have an "accident" that breaks the tank. Find someone to hold the livestock "temporarily" and offer to buy them a new tank.

Happyschneider · 09/10/2015, 11:44 AM

I think the accident already happened with 200 ppm nitrate

What is the budget to run the tank? What is the purpose of the tank? Try to find out what the biology department wants to do with the tank and people might be able to help you argue for the improvements and show you what the tank could be.

CStrickland · 09/15/2015, 11:33 AM

I wonder what happened with this tank

I hope that these nice young girls weren't discouraged from learning about the hobby on this forum because a rando thought it would be ok to comment about panties and their bodies since if he squinted really hard at the pic he could just see an outline of a person in the reflection of the flash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathlindner25

and are those mannequins in the tank with panties on?

you never really know why people disappear though, or don't post pics even though it would help diagnose an issue

Personally, I would post more pics of my tank if I didn't expect a dude to "compliment" my shape if he could make it out from a pic I posted asking for help with a tank issue. It's too hard to line up the shots just right, and it makes me uncomfortable when strangers talk about my panties, so I just don't bother.

Luke Schnabel · 09/15/2015, 01:31 PM

What's the budget your working with. You can do lots of stuff to make the tank nice with money. But little money will not get you much in this hobby. RODI water and salt mix for a few months will be 60$ or more and that's just the absolute start.

heathlindner25 · 09/15/2015, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CStrickland

I wonder what happened with this tank

I hope that these nice young girls weren't discouraged from learning about the hobby on this forum because a rando thought it would be ok to comment about panties and their bodies since if he squinted really hard at the pic he could just see an outline of a person in the reflection of the flash.

you never really know why people disappear though, or don't post pics even though it would help diagnose an issue

Personally, I would post more pics of my tank if I didn't expect a dude to "compliment" my shape if he could make it out from a pic I posted asking for help with a tank issue. It's too hard to line up the shots just right, and it makes me uncomfortable when strangers talk about my panties, so I just don't bother.

I honestly thought those were mannequins in the tank....lol in which I was going to suggest to remove them
but I do enjoy being called a rando , specially since I've been here years longer than you...

heathlindner25 · 09/15/2015, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CStrickland

I wonder what happened with this tank

I hope that these nice young girls weren't discouraged from learning about the hobby on this forum because a rando thought it would be ok to comment about panties and their bodies since if he squinted really hard at the pic he could just see an outline of a person in the reflection of the flash.

you never really know why people disappear though, or don't post pics even though it would help diagnose an issue

Personally, I would post more pics of my tank if I didn't expect a dude to "compliment" my shape if he could make it out from a pic I posted asking for help with a tank issue. It's too hard to line up the shots just right, and it makes me uncomfortable when strangers talk about my panties, so I just don't bother.

I thought I was talking to a young male in a fraternity with a fish tank and those were mannequins in there.......you thought of all of that not me.....this is a fish/ reef forum,and I've never been inappropriate to a woman in my life.

CStrickland · 09/15/2015, 05:09 PM

I didn't mean rando like new to the forum, I meant someone I don't know, a stranger.
I'm not interested in making a whole thing out of it. I just wondered if they op took it the same way I did and didn't participate any more. That would be a shame.
Based on the manicures I doubt it's a frat boy, but that's an interesting assumption. You can blame me for taking you the wrong way, or you can try to see from my point of view. Your choice.

itsmeraja86 · 09/15/2015, 05:13 PM

sorry to continue the bad news this tank is a disaster.. so getting this tank in good shape is same as building a new tank
1 - Need Live rocks for biological filtration (its a must need)
2 - RODI water for salt mix and top off
3 - remove the substrate and go bare bottom or clean the gravel with RODI and reuse it.
4 - clean the glasses scrape off the algae
5 - finally the livestock ...

heathlindner25 · 09/15/2015, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CStrickland

I didn't mean rando like new to the forum, I meant someone I don't know, a stranger.
I'm not interested in making a whole thing out of it. I just wondered if they op took it the same way I did and didn't participate any more. That would be a shame.
Based on the manicures I doubt it's a frat boy, but that's an interesting assumption. You can blame me for taking you the wrong way, or you can try to see from my point of view. Your choice.

No prob.....I was just telling you how I saw it, and I was trying to help....

CStrickland · 09/15/2015, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathlindner25

No prob.....I was just telling you how I saw it, and I was trying to help....

Yeah, I believe that. you give a lot of good advice in here, no worries

09/09/2015, 03:15 PM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	*To Reef Central* To be honest i would find someone to take the starfish and snails and just start from scratch. Also those test strips are horrriable in sw tanks so look for diff test kits, i like salifert. How much do you know about keeping fish tanks? __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

09/09/2015, 03:16 PM	#3
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	What I would do with that tank dump it out and start over. Honestly there is nothing in it worth keeping. You have no live rock for filtration no fish, and that chocolate chip starfish is why you don't have anything in there. They will eat anything that is alive including fish. What is there for filtration? __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

09/09/2015, 03:34 PM	#6
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	If you dont want to start over or its not a choice i would buy 20lbs of fully cured lr and do a 75% water change, scrapeing off the glass and syphoning out the sand. Change the filters in your power filter and get test kits for ammonia and a new kit for nitrates. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

09/10/2015, 08:32 AM	#10
Shawn O Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: People's Communist Republic of Massachusetts Posts: 1,474	Give the snails and starfish to someone who's willing to take them. Empty the tank, clean it with vinegar, rinse and repeat. Dump the gravel and replace with 20lbs of sand (not live). Add 20lbs of rock (50/50 live and dead rock). Buy 20 gallons of pre-mixed seawater. Buy a HOB filter such as an Aquaclear, Aquatop or Marineland rated for 30-50 gallons and change the filter frequently. Add a few snails and hermits after it cycles (read the "setting up" stickies about cycling). Add a *few* fish, one or two per month. Enjoy. __________________ "55gal glass box full of water, rocks and some not-so-amused little fishes" 2x Occellaris, 1 Pajama, 1 Neon Dottyback. Current Tank Info: 55gal tank, sumpless, ReefOctopus Classic 90, Twin bulb T5.

09/10/2015, 11:33 AM	#12
Shawn O Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: People's Communist Republic of Massachusetts Posts: 1,474	If talking to the biology department heads doesn't get you very far, have an "accident" that breaks the tank. Find someone to hold the livestock "temporarily" and offer to buy them a new tank. __________________ "55gal glass box full of water, rocks and some not-so-amused little fishes" 2x Occellaris, 1 Pajama, 1 Neon Dottyback. Current Tank Info: 55gal tank, sumpless, ReefOctopus Classic 90, Twin bulb T5.

09/09/2015, 03:23 PM	#4
joshkirkland83 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 81	Definitely start over, that is one rough looking tank.

09/09/2015, 03:30 PM	#5
enw1229 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 2	I would have to talk to the heads of the biology dept. before I could get rid of all the starfish and such. I used to work at PetSmart so I have a good bit of experience with freshwater fish. For filtration, there is just one filter that hangs on the side of the tank and trickles down (I think its called a power filter?). Is there anything I can do to save this tank without completely starting over? I don't want to do that but will if I have to.

09/10/2015, 08:51 AM	#11
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	That tank looks nasty. Like everybody else says, a do-over is in order. Empty it, clean it, get some rock, sand, do a cycle, etc. Read the stickies.

09/10/2015, 11:44 AM	#13
Happyschneider Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Basel, Switzerland Posts: 350	I think the accident already happened with 200 ppm nitrate What is the budget to run the tank? What is the purpose of the tank? Try to find out what the biology department wants to do with the tank and people might be able to help you argue for the improvements and show you what the tank could be. __________________ My build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2517452 180 liter, sumpless reef, no skimmer for the moment. Current Tank Info: Juwel VISION 180, currently only invertebrates, planning to have low bioload as I have no skimmer and no refugium for the moment.

09/15/2015, 01:31 PM	#15
Luke Schnabel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Canton. Ohio Posts: 288	What's the budget your working with. You can do lots of stuff to make the tank nice with money. But little money will not get you much in this hobby. RODI water and salt mix for a few months will be 60$ or more and that's just the absolute start. __________________ In wall 125 gallon display and 48g frag tank w/ 75gallon sump Apex Controlled, 2xMP40, 1 MP10, Ecotech M1 return, reef octopus x5000, 4x Ecotech Radion G2 with T5 supplament(Display), 2x AI Hydras (fr

09/15/2015, 05:09 PM	#18
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	I didn't mean rando like new to the forum, I meant someone I don't know, a stranger. I'm not interested in making a whole thing out of it. I just wondered if they op took it the same way I did and didn't participate any more. That would be a shame. Based on the manicures I doubt it's a frat boy, but that's an interesting assumption. You can blame me for taking you the wrong way, or you can try to see from my point of view. Your choice. __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

09/15/2015, 05:13 PM	#19
itsmeraja86 Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Canada Posts: 99	sorry to continue the bad news this tank is a disaster.. so getting this tank in good shape is same as building a new tank 1 - Need Live rocks for biological filtration (its a must need) 2 - RODI water for salt mix and top off 3 - remove the substrate and go bare bottom or clean the gravel with RODI and reuse it. 4 - clean the glasses scrape off the algae 5 - finally the livestock ...