why nitrates now??????

suznf · 08/10/2006, 08:44 PM

This tank has been established for a bit over two years. Everything has been stable and params were perfect until recently the nitrates shot up and a cynobacteria outbreak.
WHY?
I have several LPS, softies, 2 clams, some montis, brain coral, blue ridge coral. All corals growing and happy.
Fish /1 foxface, 1 rabbitfish, 2 firefish, 1 three line wrasse,
1 mandarin, 1 clownfish - all fish fat and healthy
I feed sparingly and all food is eaten.
I have a blue linkia starfish that I have had over a year.
2 cleaner shrimp, sexy shrimp
Many snails, 4 small hermit crabs and 2 bristle starfish, many many bristleworms
No changes recently except the rise in nitrates and the algae outbreak.
I do a 7-10 gal WC weekly. Can this be too much?
I need new bulbs in the lights (on order) , what else?
What can I do to get the nitrates down?
Thanks

15 and 20 MH lights
75 gal with about 130lbs of live rock
ph - 8.1
ammon - 0
nitrites - 0
nitrates - 20ppm
temp - 78.5
salinity - 1.024

jpmcca01 · 08/10/2006, 09:04 PM

Put a refugium in the system, any macro algae that grows will help eliminate the nitrates. Nitrates should only be comming in the system from feeding. How do you top off the tank? I hope you are using a RO unit. If you are then you may need to replace your filters, since the main membranes are suppose to be changed once a year.

suznf · 08/10/2006, 09:15 PM

Oh yes and I buy RO water from the LFS (only use that), and have macro algae growing in the built-in refugium in the back of the tank.

jpmcca01 · 08/10/2006, 09:19 PM

Test your LFS water prior to using it. See if it is nutrient free..

08/10/2006, 08:44 PM	#1
suznf Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: w. fletcher Posts: 96	why nitrates now?????? This tank has been established for a bit over two years. Everything has been stable and params were perfect until recently the nitrates shot up and a cynobacteria outbreak. WHY? I have several LPS, softies, 2 clams, some montis, brain coral, blue ridge coral. All corals growing and happy. Fish /1 foxface, 1 rabbitfish, 2 firefish, 1 three line wrasse, 1 mandarin, 1 clownfish - all fish fat and healthy I feed sparingly and all food is eaten. I have a blue linkia starfish that I have had over a year. 2 cleaner shrimp, sexy shrimp Many snails, 4 small hermit crabs and 2 bristle starfish, many many bristleworms No changes recently except the rise in nitrates and the algae outbreak. I do a 7-10 gal WC weekly. Can this be too much? I need new bulbs in the lights (on order) , what else? What can I do to get the nitrates down? Thanks 15 and 20 MH lights 75 gal with about 130lbs of live rock ph - 8.1 ammon - 0 nitrites - 0 nitrates - 20ppm temp - 78.5 salinity - 1.024 Last edited by suznf; 08/10/2006 at 09:16 PM.

08/10/2006, 09:04 PM	#2
jpmcca01 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 72	Put a refugium in the system, any macro algae that grows will help eliminate the nitrates. Nitrates should only be comming in the system from feeding. How do you top off the tank? I hope you are using a RO unit. If you are then you may need to replace your filters, since the main membranes are suppose to be changed once a year.

08/10/2006, 09:15 PM	#3
suznf Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: w. fletcher Posts: 96	Oh yes and I buy RO water from the LFS (only use that), and have macro algae growing in the built-in refugium in the back of the tank.

08/10/2006, 09:19 PM	#4
jpmcca01 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 72	Test your LFS water prior to using it. See if it is nutrient free..