High Nitrates

dse18612 · 03/08/2020, 06:22 PM

Its been along time since i have had a saltwater tank, just about a decade i guess hence putting this in new to the hobby! 40 gallon breeder used 40 pounds of dry rock ammonia 0 nitrite 0 to .25 but nitrate is 160 PH little low 7.8 Alk 5.0 tank is 8 weeks old nothing in it yet. I did a 10% water change but Nitrates remained the same, only thing im using is a HOB filter so my questions are as follows
1. how do i raise my Alk
2. how do i get my nitrates down
3. does my Ph need to be higher

crimsonreef · 03/08/2020, 07:38 PM

Welcome back to the hobby. I wouldn't worry about the ph so much right now. 7.8 is certainly workable.

Your alk is really low for sure as you mentioned.
Before making changes like addressing the low alk...
I would
1) suggest retesting the low alk value again just to be certain. (You may want to mention what test kit you are using)
2) test for salinity and post the results here.

Water changes should bring improvements. (I'm assuming you are using RO/DI water). With nothing in the tank yet, you could be more aggressive (> 10%) with your water changes for now. As far as how to reduce your nitrates in general, there are several. I export nutrients by growing chaeto in a refuge.

mcgyvr · 03/08/2020, 08:22 PM

Change 90% of the water..

A 10% change is useles

gprdypoo04 · 03/09/2020, 01:00 AM

Good thing you only have a 40 gal.

Scrubber_steve · 03/09/2020, 04:36 AM

>>> nitrite 0 to .25 but nitrate is 160 <<<

I believe no2 will show as no3 on a nitrate test kit so your no3 may not be as high as indicated.

Sodium bicarbonate, or better yet sodium carbonate will raise your alk, & Your pH.

dse18612 · 03/09/2020, 08:56 AM

Thank you for the replies! I am using Salifert Carbonate Hardness/alkalinity, I did another test and realized I used wrong chart my bad, different languages so alk is 14.7 my S.G is 1.023. I still have lots of air bubbles coming from rock, I am in no hurry to add anything.

03/08/2020, 06:22 PM	#1
dse18612 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Dallas, PA Posts: 71	High Nitrates Its been along time since i have had a saltwater tank, just about a decade i guess hence putting this in new to the hobby! 40 gallon breeder used 40 pounds of dry rock ammonia 0 nitrite 0 to .25 but nitrate is 160 PH little low 7.8 Alk 5.0 tank is 8 weeks old nothing in it yet. I did a 10% water change but Nitrates remained the same, only thing im using is a HOB filter so my questions are as follows 1. how do i raise my Alk 2. how do i get my nitrates down 3. does my Ph need to be higher

03/08/2020, 08:22 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Change 90% of the water.. A 10% change is useles __________________ Who me?

03/09/2020, 04:36 AM	#5
Scrubber_steve I'm really very likeable Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Down Under Posts: 676	>>> nitrite 0 to .25 but nitrate is 160 <<< I believe no2 will show as no3 on a nitrate test kit so your no3 may not be as high as indicated. Sodium bicarbonate, or better yet sodium carbonate will raise your alk, & Your pH. __________________ Create a Concept & Reality Leaves the Room. Current Tank Info: Algae scrubbed.

03/08/2020, 07:38 PM	#2
crimsonreef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: California Posts: 22	Welcome back to the hobby. I wouldn't worry about the ph so much right now. 7.8 is certainly workable. Your alk is really low for sure as you mentioned. Before making changes like addressing the low alk... I would 1) suggest retesting the low alk value again just to be certain. (You may want to mention what test kit you are using) 2) test for salinity and post the results here. Water changes should bring improvements. (I'm assuming you are using RO/DI water). With nothing in the tank yet, you could be more aggressive (> 10%) with your water changes for now. As far as how to reduce your nitrates in general, there are several. I export nutrients by growing chaeto in a refuge.

03/09/2020, 01:00 AM	#4
gprdypoo04 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 389	Good thing you only have a 40 gal.

03/09/2020, 08:56 AM	#6
dse18612 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Dallas, PA Posts: 71	Thank you for the replies! I am using Salifert Carbonate Hardness/alkalinity, I did another test and realized I used wrong chart my bad, different languages so alk is 14.7 my S.G is 1.023. I still have lots of air bubbles coming from rock, I am in no hurry to add anything.