friend tank nitrates read 160

anthonys51 · 11/20/2016, 06:12 PM

my friend just tested his water and it came back at 160ppm for nitrates. cant believe his fish and maxima clam is still alive. his leathers and zoas are ok too, but all his corals, acan, hammer, torch have been died one by one. h
cant believe it, had to go check myself. how did his clam live

bnumair · 11/20/2016, 06:52 PM

i would say re test with a different kit. maybe human error or bad kit. rule that out then
160ppm is tolerable to fish but not inverts. maybe they are irritated, also if nitrates grow over time with small increments they might be dealing with it. i would do water change is results are true and bring them down under 50 for sure and under 10 if possible.

anthonys51 · 11/20/2016, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnumair

i would say re test with a different kit. maybe human error or bad kit. rule that out then
160ppm is tolerable to fish but not inverts. maybe they are irritated, also if nitrates grow over time with small increments they might be dealing with it. i would do water change is results are true and bring them down under 50 for sure and under 10 if possible.

yes i tested he tested and lfs store tested. i really didnt think soft coral pink zippers, green goblins and a clam could live, but like you said maybe slowly over time. i told him do a 25 percent water change every 5 days, dont want to shock whats left in the tank, they might of gotten used to the bad water

scooter31707 · 11/21/2016, 01:03 PM

I would to 25-30% water change everyday until it's back to somewhat normal, then spread the water changes out a bit. Also what often does he do a water change for regular maintenance? How much are you feeding. Is he using live rock and skimmer for his filtration?

anthonys51 · 11/21/2016, 01:37 PM

his tank has been up for 9 years. he runs a skimmer, gfo and carbon. also has a DSB he hasnt cleaned in 9 years and has had like 9 tank wipe outs since he got the tank.
but the last go around everything was ok, Then he added a few more fish, and started feeding his corals like 2 to 3 times a week. his scoly and acans looked great after he feed them,, then a month or 2 later one by one his corals would die, took like 2 -3 months for them all to die. he was so worried about phosphates he never checked nitrates. told him too, he said he didnt have a test kit.

scooter31707 · 11/21/2016, 02:27 PM

That's probably the cause adding more and more feedings.

anthonys51 · 11/22/2016, 08:28 AM

The shock is his maxima clam in thriving it doubled in size in last 6 months

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mcgyvr · 11/22/2016, 09:26 AM

Its entirely possible..
Clams can take some dirty water.. Fish.. no problem for the most part.. Soft corals,etc.. sure..
But everything would likely be better without nitrate levels that high..
And as you have seen other corals like LPS/SPS,etc.. will NOT fair well in a system like that..

pfan151 · 11/22/2016, 09:49 AM

If it were my tank I'd do small waterchanges every day and vucuum up very small section of the sandbed with the waterchanges until basically all the sand was gone.

anthonys51 · 11/22/2016, 02:05 PM

That's what I told him but he doesn't listen. We all have a friend like that

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toothybugs · 11/22/2016, 02:31 PM

To save a ton on salt from all the water changes, personally I'd consider starting a little carbon dosing. A shot of vodka in to the ATO res, for example.

anthonys51 · 11/22/2016, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toothybugs

To save a ton on salt from all the water changes, personally I'd consider starting a little carbon dosing. A shot of vodka in to the ATO res, for example.

he actually started carbon dosing. probably easier to do that long term then clean 90 gallon tank thats 9 years old out

toothybugs · 11/22/2016, 02:59 PM

One other thing that jumps out: Turn off the pumps, blow out the rock and let the crud settle, skim suck it out and let the carbon do its thing. Might take a bit to kick in and see results but I wouldn't hesitate to be a little aggressive with the vinegar.

jstack · 11/22/2016, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthonys51

his tank has been up for 9 years. he runs a skimmer, gfo and carbon. also has a DSB he hasnt cleaned in 9 years and has had like 9 tank wipe outs since he got the tank.
but the last go around everything was ok, Then he added a few more fish, and started feeding his corals like 2 to 3 times a week. his scoly and acans looked great after he feed them,, then a month or 2 later one by one his corals would die, took like 2 -3 months for them all to die. he was so worried about phosphates he never checked nitrates. told him too, he said he didnt have a test kit.

rofl why even help this person sounds like he's been hitting the glass every year for 9 years. gettim a betta bowl and be done with it that's alotta life that's been murdered

anthonys51 · 11/22/2016, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toothybugs

One other thing that jumps out: Turn off the pumps, blow out the rock and let the crud settle, skim suck it out and let the carbon do its thing. Might take a bit to kick in and see results but I wouldn't hesitate to be a little aggressive with the vinegar.

will advise him on that one

anthonys51 · 11/22/2016, 07:39 PM

honestly i dont know how people kill soft corals. his leathers, kenya and mushroom are growing like crazy

Mad_Reefer · 11/22/2016, 08:08 PM

Those particular soft corals can be used for nutrient export.

Betaktical · 11/23/2016, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad_Reefer

Those particular soft corals can be used for nutrient export.

Really? How do they do that as I have a Kenya mushroom and Xenia but
My nitrate hangs around 40-50 ppm

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Mad_Reefer · 11/23/2016, 08:19 AM

In my old tank, I would remove large amounts of those corals regularly. I just threw them in the trash. They grew back very fast.

Betaktical · 11/23/2016, 11:35 AM

Cool!! My Kenya tree has already dropped a couple branches so hopefully when they grow that might help a little bit too

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Sk8r · 11/23/2016, 10:10 PM

NoPoX is pretty good at hammering nitrate down.

anthonys51 · 11/24/2016, 09:29 AM

Think he is using probiotics. Or something like that in a week it went down to 60 with a water change

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11/20/2016, 06:12 PM	#1
anthonys51 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kings Park, NY Posts: 2,789	friend tank nitrates read 160 my friend just tested his water and it came back at 160ppm for nitrates. cant believe his fish and maxima clam is still alive. his leathers and zoas are ok too, but all his corals, acan, hammer, torch have been died one by one. h cant believe it, had to go check myself. how did his clam live

11/20/2016, 06:52 PM	#2
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	i would say re test with a different kit. maybe human error or bad kit. rule that out then 160ppm is tolerable to fish but not inverts. maybe they are irritated, also if nitrates grow over time with small increments they might be dealing with it. i would do water change is results are true and bring them down under 50 for sure and under 10 if possible. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

11/22/2016, 09:26 AM	#8
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Its entirely possible.. Clams can take some dirty water.. Fish.. no problem for the most part.. Soft corals,etc.. sure.. But everything would likely be better without nitrate levels that high.. And as you have seen other corals like LPS/SPS,etc.. will NOT fair well in a system like that.. __________________ Who me?

11/23/2016, 10:10 PM	#21
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	NoPoX is pretty good at hammering nitrate down. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/21/2016, 01:03 PM	#4
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	I would to 25-30% water change everyday until it's back to somewhat normal, then spread the water changes out a bit. Also what often does he do a water change for regular maintenance? How much are you feeding. Is he using live rock and skimmer for his filtration?

11/21/2016, 01:37 PM	#5
anthonys51 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kings Park, NY Posts: 2,789	his tank has been up for 9 years. he runs a skimmer, gfo and carbon. also has a DSB he hasnt cleaned in 9 years and has had like 9 tank wipe outs since he got the tank. but the last go around everything was ok, Then he added a few more fish, and started feeding his corals like 2 to 3 times a week. his scoly and acans looked great after he feed them,, then a month or 2 later one by one his corals would die, took like 2 -3 months for them all to die. he was so worried about phosphates he never checked nitrates. told him too, he said he didnt have a test kit.

11/21/2016, 02:27 PM	#6
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	That's probably the cause adding more and more feedings.

11/22/2016, 08:28 AM	#7
anthonys51 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kings Park, NY Posts: 2,789	The shock is his maxima clam in thriving it doubled in size in last 6 months Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

11/22/2016, 09:49 AM	#9
pfan151 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: FL Posts: 1,897	If it were my tank I'd do small waterchanges every day and vucuum up very small section of the sandbed with the waterchanges until basically all the sand was gone.

11/22/2016, 02:05 PM	#10
anthonys51 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kings Park, NY Posts: 2,789	That's what I told him but he doesn't listen. We all have a friend like that Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

11/22/2016, 02:31 PM	#11
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	To save a ton on salt from all the water changes, personally I'd consider starting a little carbon dosing. A shot of vodka in to the ATO res, for example.

11/22/2016, 02:59 PM	#13
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	One other thing that jumps out: Turn off the pumps, blow out the rock and let the crud settle, skim suck it out and let the carbon do its thing. Might take a bit to kick in and see results but I wouldn't hesitate to be a little aggressive with the vinegar.

11/22/2016, 07:39 PM	#16
anthonys51 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kings Park, NY Posts: 2,789	honestly i dont know how people kill soft corals. his leathers, kenya and mushroom are growing like crazy

11/22/2016, 08:08 PM	#17
Mad_Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 249	Those particular soft corals can be used for nutrient export.

11/23/2016, 08:19 AM	#19
Mad_Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 249	In my old tank, I would remove large amounts of those corals regularly. I just threw them in the trash. They grew back very fast.

11/23/2016, 11:35 AM	#20
Betaktical Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 363	Cool!! My Kenya tree has already dropped a couple branches so hopefully when they grow that might help a little bit too Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

11/24/2016, 09:29 AM	#22
anthonys51 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kings Park, NY Posts: 2,789	Think he is using probiotics. Or something like that in a week it went down to 60 with a water change Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk