nitrates

laytonandy · 12/19/2009, 01:19 AM

Haven't checked nitrates in an embarrassing long time. Mature tank with all other chemistries checked regularly and readings are good. Nitrates checked and read 20. Removed large prefilter to my main pump. Feel like it was not getting cleaned enough. Should I look at removing the sand and go bare bottom? I understand that the lower the nitrate level the better but is a reading of 20 unacceptable for soft corals.

75 gallon
AquaC skimmer
260 watt pc lights
1-2 inch sandbed
live rock
green star polyp
volitan lionfish
2 starfish
yellow tang
3 blennies
red leg hermit crabs (approx. 6)

Flipper62 · 12/19/2009, 01:48 AM

What are you using to test. Most kits are ok for higher levels, but not good for really low levels....API, Salifert....ect.

20 is not bad, and with most kits thats a common reading. Nitrates are not toxic. However you do want to keep it as low as possable.

Just to make sure that your readings are ok....Take some water into your LFS and let him check it. This is also a good way to be sure that your kits are ok and didn't expire

bertoni · 12/19/2009, 02:54 AM

Soft corals won't be bothered at all by 20 ppm nitrate. I'd ignore it.

Michael · 12/19/2009, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flipper62

What are you using to test. Most kits are ok for higher levels, but not good for really low levels....API, Salifert....ect.

20 is not bad, and with most kits thats a common reading. Nitrates are not toxic. However you do want to keep it as low as possable.

Just to make sure that your readings are ok....Take some water into your LFS and let him check it. This is also a good way to be sure that your kits are ok and didn't expire

agree with flipper here, and 20 isnt a major worry for soft corals, but attemp to get under 5

Lightsluvr · 12/19/2009, 07:14 AM

...all of the above good advice...plus be diligent with your water changes...

LL

bigffish · 12/19/2009, 07:28 AM

I would quickly add, I would look at the amount of water movement in the tank. I think it always good practice to keep the detrius suspended as long as you can. Look in the tank especially bottom and the corners and make sure there are no dead spots; are you running your tank with a sump?

Good luck, happy holidays all. We are having a honkin' blizzard here in MD.

Bigffish

Korrine · 12/19/2009, 07:44 AM

a honkin' blizzard, eh? Never had one of those!

Those nitrates would generally bother sps, supposedly, but I think that's about it. My tank was at 40 ppm for awhile with no ill effect on my inverts either (including my $50 shrimp). Now it's about 2.5

sheac12 · 12/19/2009, 09:04 AM

+ 1 to watching for dead spots in the tank. Often times these dead spots will have have excess algae on the glass, substrate or the rock.

I assume that you have a sump, so make sure you have gotten all the debris out of the sump(look in the corners and in between any baffles you might have).

Have you thought about adding a refugium if you don't already have one. I know that it help me a lot on my 90.

Finally what type of circulation do you have going in the tank? I see you have a main return, but what else is providing water movement in there?

bigffish · 12/19/2009, 10:14 AM

I agree, if your test is consistently at a level of 20? your probably ok, if probably is ok for you. But it might also be an early indication that something in the "circle of life" in your tank is not right? Keep a good eye on the appearance of the health of the livestock, you sometimes may notice something in the livestock before you see it in a test result. Bigffish honkin'=howlin'= big blow= 25-35 mph sustained winds, some call it horizontal snow! LUV IT!

fatdaddy · 12/19/2009, 10:26 AM

I'd go with DSB in a bucket. It works incredibly well.

laytonandy · 12/19/2009, 08:01 PM

Working on increasing water flow. already have two powerheads and 1 large internal pump with two outlets. Looking into the DSB Bucket thing. Also plan to upgrade sump to possibly include refugium. thanks for all the input.

12/19/2009, 01:19 AM	#1
laytonandy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: milton, florida Posts: 10	nitrates Haven't checked nitrates in an embarrassing long time. Mature tank with all other chemistries checked regularly and readings are good. Nitrates checked and read 20. Removed large prefilter to my main pump. Feel like it was not getting cleaned enough. Should I look at removing the sand and go bare bottom? I understand that the lower the nitrate level the better but is a reading of 20 unacceptable for soft corals. 75 gallon AquaC skimmer 260 watt pc lights 1-2 inch sandbed live rock green star polyp volitan lionfish 2 starfish yellow tang 3 blennies red leg hermit crabs (approx. 6)

12/19/2009, 01:48 AM	#2
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	What are you using to test. Most kits are ok for higher levels, but not good for really low levels....API, Salifert....ect. 20 is not bad, and with most kits thats a common reading. Nitrates are not toxic. However you do want to keep it as low as possable. Just to make sure that your readings are ok....Take some water into your LFS and let him check it. This is also a good way to be sure that your kits are ok and didn't expire __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

12/19/2009, 02:54 AM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Soft corals won't be bothered at all by 20 ppm nitrate. I'd ignore it. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/19/2009, 07:14 AM	#5
Lightsluvr Tangaroa to 500 gallons Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,855	...all of the above good advice...plus be diligent with your water changes... LL __________________ Click on my username and select "Lightsluvr's Home Page" for a recap of our build thread - AGE Hybrid Tank in a 500G system with dedicated fish room. (Takes a few minutes for photos to load) Leave a note if you stop by... Current Tank Info: 350G AGE Hybrid reef tank. 500G+ total water volume. Three sumps for filtration. Barracuda Gold return and Hammerhead Gold closed loop pumps. DIY T5 light system on rails. MP40W x3 to supplement closed loop. 130G Water management system.

12/19/2009, 07:28 AM	#6
bigffish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 68	re nitrates I would quickly add, I would look at the amount of water movement in the tank. I think it always good practice to keep the detrius suspended as long as you can. Look in the tank especially bottom and the corners and make sure there are no dead spots; are you running your tank with a sump? Good luck, happy holidays all. We are having a honkin' blizzard here in MD. Bigffish

12/19/2009, 07:44 AM	#7
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	a honkin' blizzard, eh? Never had one of those! Those nitrates would generally bother sps, supposedly, but I think that's about it. My tank was at 40 ppm for awhile with no ill effect on my inverts either (including my $50 shrimp). Now it's about 2.5 __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

12/19/2009, 09:04 AM	#8
sheac12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 77	+ 1 to watching for dead spots in the tank. Often times these dead spots will have have excess algae on the glass, substrate or the rock. I assume that you have a sump, so make sure you have gotten all the debris out of the sump(look in the corners and in between any baffles you might have). Have you thought about adding a refugium if you don't already have one. I know that it help me a lot on my 90. Finally what type of circulation do you have going in the tank? I see you have a main return, but what else is providing water movement in there?

12/19/2009, 10:14 AM	#9
bigffish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 68	Also I agree, if your test is consistently at a level of 20? your probably ok, if probably is ok for you. But it might also be an early indication that something in the "circle of life" in your tank is not right? Keep a good eye on the appearance of the health of the livestock, you sometimes may notice something in the livestock before you see it in a test result. Bigffish honkin'=howlin'= big blow= 25-35 mph sustained winds, some call it horizontal snow! LUV IT!

12/19/2009, 10:26 AM	#10
fatdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast Florida Posts: 1,191	I'd go with DSB in a bucket. It works incredibly well. __________________ "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle

12/19/2009, 08:01 PM	#11
laytonandy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: milton, florida Posts: 10	Working on increasing water flow. already have two powerheads and 1 large internal pump with two outlets. Looking into the DSB Bucket thing. Also plan to upgrade sump to possibly include refugium. thanks for all the input.