Nitrate high!

i2go · 03/08/2006, 06:19 PM

I have nitrate that 17! I know, im trying to get it down but hoW! I do like 2 gallon water changes everyweek. But i dont know! Please help. I have a 12nano dx, 1 cleaner shrimp, like 10 hermits, one clown, 7 small frags, 2 snails(turbo, just had babys), 4 astrea snaills. And like 13lbs of rock. and some LR in the back.

jjirsa78 · 03/08/2006, 06:38 PM

Larger water changes with RO/DI or NSW will help.

How often are you feeding? I've got a 24G NanoCube DX, so I know that it's tough without a skimmer - generally just watch how much you feed, do water changes when it gets that high.

bertoni · 03/08/2006, 06:41 PM

Feeding is probably the issue. 2g changes are fine. Depending on what frags you have, 17 ppm nitrate might not be much of an issue. How long has the tank been set up? Are you using tapwater?

old salty · 03/08/2006, 07:37 PM

A 50% WC will only get you down to 8 or 9. I would do several large (75%) WC's combined with trying to figure out where they are coming from. If not, eventually, the nitrates will climb.

bertoni · 03/08/2006, 07:42 PM

I wouldn't do a water change over about 25% with a tank that's set up. I think that can be pretty hard on the organisms. 17ppm nitrate is not an emergency, IMO. A series of 20-25% changes would lower the levels, but if the problem is overfeeding or not enough live rock, the levels will pop back up quickly.

XeniaMania · 03/08/2006, 07:45 PM

But isn't live rock a source? Since it converts ammonia to nitrite then nitrates? I have a DeNitrate bottle trick that works really well for me. Ever since I got my nitrates down to 0 they've stayed 0 even with regular feeding. It requires gravity feeding though.

bertoni · 03/08/2006, 07:46 PM

Generally, live rock is considered to be a denitrifier, since it seems to convert nitrate into nitrogen gas.

i2go · 03/08/2006, 10:30 PM

I have zoos, one hairy mushroom, soft corals, i have 13lbs in main, and in chambers 4lbs. i am using water that i get from a LFS, thats already to go. wats RO/DI or NSW? Also, i had ich like 6 4 weeks ago, so i got another clown, and a cleaner shrimp(always hides in this rock) And i feed the clown to get him used to it... like 3 flakes or pellets everyday. Thanks guys

bertoni · 03/08/2006, 10:33 PM

NSW is natural sea water
RO-DI is reverse-osmosis deionization, which is a type of filter that converts a water source into very pure water.

i2go · 03/08/2006, 10:39 PM

So...can you get NSW from your ocean? Or is it a saltmix? I have a water filter for drinking water that i get from the kitch sink is that fine>?

bertoni · 03/08/2006, 10:41 PM

There are stores that sell NSW, and if you can collect away from shore in an unpolluted area, that should work as well.

The filter for the kitchen sink probably doesn't do much. I sprung for an RO-DI filter eventually. I got tired of tapwater problems.

i2go · 03/08/2006, 11:00 PM

ok thank you, but do you sujest anything else to do? The thin layer of algae is such a nusence. lol

XeniaMania · 03/08/2006, 11:26 PM

What about those Glacier vending machines? They claim to use RO/DI and UV sterilization plus 2 phases of Carbon.

jay24k · 03/08/2006, 11:28 PM

Have you tested your water from the store? I've seen several that have high nitrates from the store.

What color is the algae?

Red? Cyano, try to syphon that stuff out of use chemipure which I've heard of good results.

Brown? Diatoms, just keep on the water changes and possibly do 2 a week if you can till you beat it.

Hopefully that is the only 2 it could be. Snap a pic and it would be easier to tell.

In my wife's 12 gallon nano, I have a mexican turbo, 6 astreas, 2 ceriths and 2 nassarius. They tear that thing clean. I would suggest adding some more personally.

XeniaMania · 03/08/2006, 11:36 PM

One time I bought water from the store. When I opened up my canister, it smelled like tap water, bastage~!

i2go · 03/08/2006, 11:58 PM

Umm its a thin green algae

bertoni · 03/09/2006, 12:10 AM

How many and what type of snails do you have, if any?

i2go · 03/09/2006, 12:26 AM

2 turbo, 4 astrea

i2go · 03/09/2006, 12:27 AM

Im mainly trying to figure out whats wrong with my nirtrate..

jjirsa78 · 03/09/2006, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by XeniaMania
One time I bought water from the store. When I opened up my canister, it smelled like tap water, bastage~!

You're in Irvine? Jeff's Exotic Fish in Orange (Tustin between Katella and Chapman) sells natural sea water for $0.35/gallon (give or take). I know they have a Costa Mesa (Harbor and Fair) store too, depending on how far west you are.

(In Aliso Viejo myself - wish I could find someone good down in south county).

MCary · 03/09/2006, 12:00 PM

Nitrate can be reduced though the production side by not feeding excessively and siphoning out waste.

To get rid of nitrate that is already produced is tougher. A little escapes into the air as nitrogen gas as stated before. And frequent water changes will maintain a low level. But to reduce down to zero you must have some sort or nitrate reducing system. That usually consists of some sort of system for culturing anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria are bacteria that cannot live in the presence of free oxygen or hydroxide radicals (OH) Large pourous liverock can sometime hold anaerobes in its core and therefore some reefers can have success with just liverock. DSB's of greater than 3 inches can result in an anaerobic layer on the bottom. And then there are reactors like coils and sulpher beads that pump water through them slowly enough to prevent oxygenation.

The other best best is a refugium with macroalge that consumes the nitrates.

Thats about your only options.

Mike

bertoni · 03/09/2006, 02:04 PM

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...t2003/chem.htm

That article talks about ways to reduce nitrate levels. Better skimming, less feeding, and growing and harvesting a macroalga are all ideas worth considering.

i2go · 03/09/2006, 06:42 PM

I think im going to start a refug( with these green buble things) and get NSW. Thanks guys

XeniaMania · 03/09/2006, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jjirsa78
You're in Irvine? Jeff's Exotic Fish in Orange (Tustin between Katella and Chapman) sells natural sea water for $0.35/gallon (give or take). I know they have a Costa Mesa (Harbor and Fair) store too, depending on how far west you are.

(In Aliso Viejo myself - wish I could find someone good down in south county).

You can try Reef Room down at Dana Point. Off of Crown Valley, down to PCH and make a left, Blue Lantern and PCH is the cross street.

i2go · 03/11/2006, 02:20 AM

Ya i use that SW

03/08/2006, 06:19 PM	#1
i2go Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 674	Nitrate high! I have nitrate that 17! I know, im trying to get it down but hoW! I do like 2 gallon water changes everyweek. But i dont know! Please help. I have a 12nano dx, 1 cleaner shrimp, like 10 hermits, one clown, 7 small frags, 2 snails(turbo, just had babys), 4 astrea snaills. And like 13lbs of rock. and some LR in the back.

03/08/2006, 06:41 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Feeding is probably the issue. 2g changes are fine. Depending on what frags you have, 17 ppm nitrate might not be much of an issue. How long has the tank been set up? Are you using tapwater? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/08/2006, 07:37 PM	#4
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	A 50% WC will only get you down to 8 or 9. I would do several large (75%) WC's combined with trying to figure out where they are coming from. If not, eventually, the nitrates will climb. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

03/08/2006, 07:42 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I wouldn't do a water change over about 25% with a tank that's set up. I think that can be pretty hard on the organisms. 17ppm nitrate is not an emergency, IMO. A series of 20-25% changes would lower the levels, but if the problem is overfeeding or not enough live rock, the levels will pop back up quickly. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/08/2006, 07:46 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Generally, live rock is considered to be a denitrifier, since it seems to convert nitrate into nitrogen gas. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/08/2006, 06:38 PM	#2
jjirsa78 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aliso Viejo, CA Posts: 445	Larger water changes with RO/DI or NSW will help. How often are you feeding? I've got a 24G NanoCube DX, so I know that it's tough without a skimmer - generally just watch how much you feed, do water changes when it gets that high.

03/08/2006, 07:45 PM	#6
XeniaMania Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 1,627	But isn't live rock a source? Since it converts ammonia to nitrite then nitrates? I have a DeNitrate bottle trick that works really well for me. Ever since I got my nitrates down to 0 they've stayed 0 even with regular feeding. It requires gravity feeding though.

03/08/2006, 10:30 PM	#8
i2go Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 674	I have zoos, one hairy mushroom, soft corals, i have 13lbs in main, and in chambers 4lbs. i am using water that i get from a LFS, thats already to go. wats RO/DI or NSW? Also, i had ich like 6 4 weeks ago, so i got another clown, and a cleaner shrimp(always hides in this rock) And i feed the clown to get him used to it... like 3 flakes or pellets everyday. Thanks guys

03/08/2006, 10:33 PM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	NSW is natural sea water RO-DI is reverse-osmosis deionization, which is a type of filter that converts a water source into very pure water. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/08/2006, 10:39 PM	#10
i2go Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 674	So...can you get NSW from your ocean? Or is it a saltmix? I have a water filter for drinking water that i get from the kitch sink is that fine>?

03/08/2006, 10:41 PM	#11
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	There are stores that sell NSW, and if you can collect away from shore in an unpolluted area, that should work as well. The filter for the kitchen sink probably doesn't do much. I sprung for an RO-DI filter eventually. I got tired of tapwater problems. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/08/2006, 11:00 PM	#12
i2go Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 674	ok thank you, but do you sujest anything else to do? The thin layer of algae is such a nusence. lol

03/08/2006, 11:26 PM	#13
XeniaMania Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 1,627	What about those Glacier vending machines? They claim to use RO/DI and UV sterilization plus 2 phases of Carbon.

03/08/2006, 11:28 PM	#14
jay24k Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Leesburg, Florida Posts: 6,546	Have you tested your water from the store? I've seen several that have high nitrates from the store. What color is the algae? Red? Cyano, try to syphon that stuff out of use chemipure which I've heard of good results. Brown? Diatoms, just keep on the water changes and possibly do 2 a week if you can till you beat it. Hopefully that is the only 2 it could be. Snap a pic and it would be easier to tell. In my wife's 12 gallon nano, I have a mexican turbo, 6 astreas, 2 ceriths and 2 nassarius. They tear that thing clean. I would suggest adding some more personally.

03/08/2006, 11:36 PM	#15
XeniaMania Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 1,627	One time I bought water from the store. When I opened up my canister, it smelled like tap water, bastage~!

03/08/2006, 11:58 PM	#16
i2go Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 674	Umm its a thin green algae

03/09/2006, 12:10 AM	#17
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	How many and what type of snails do you have, if any? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/09/2006, 12:26 AM	#18
i2go Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 674	2 turbo, 4 astrea

03/09/2006, 12:27 AM	#19
i2go Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 674	Im mainly trying to figure out whats wrong with my nirtrate..

03/09/2006, 12:00 PM	#21
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	Nitrate can be reduced though the production side by not feeding excessively and siphoning out waste. To get rid of nitrate that is already produced is tougher. A little escapes into the air as nitrogen gas as stated before. And frequent water changes will maintain a low level. But to reduce down to zero you must have some sort or nitrate reducing system. That usually consists of some sort of system for culturing anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria are bacteria that cannot live in the presence of free oxygen or hydroxide radicals (OH) Large pourous liverock can sometime hold anaerobes in its core and therefore some reefers can have success with just liverock. DSB's of greater than 3 inches can result in an anaerobic layer on the bottom. And then there are reactors like coils and sulpher beads that pump water through them slowly enough to prevent oxygenation. The other best best is a refugium with macroalge that consumes the nitrates. Thats about your only options. Mike

03/09/2006, 02:04 PM	#22
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...t2003/chem.htm That article talks about ways to reduce nitrate levels. Better skimming, less feeding, and growing and harvesting a macroalga are all ideas worth considering. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/09/2006, 06:42 PM	#23
i2go Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 674	I think im going to start a refug( with these green buble things) and get NSW. Thanks guys

03/11/2006, 02:20 AM	#25
i2go Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 674	Ya i use that SW