Nitrates in Crushed Coral?

mkhordiav · 04/24/2007, 06:36 PM

Is it possible for nitrates to reside in a crushed coral bed? I've been pulling my hair out trying to discover the source of my high nitrates (80-100ppm). Here are the water specs:

Salinity 1.024
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrites: 0ppm
Nitrates: 80-100ppm
Water Temp 80deg.

I'm running a CSS125 full time, and not overfeeding my trigger. I'm using RO water, that reads no nitrates either. I've done massive water changes, only to see it drop by 10-20ppm. The only other thing I can think of is my 2" deep crushed coral bed is laden with them? Maybe it's time to replace it with aragonite? Thanks for the advice!

-Dmitri

Toddrtrex · 04/24/2007, 07:31 PM

In my 58gal I have a CC sandbed and 0 Nitrates (Salifert) tank has been running for over 6 years now. However, when I do my weekly water changes I vac. the sand bed. IMO, the is the key when using CC as a sandbed. If you are not vacuuming it, I would have to guess that that is the cause of your high nitrates.

supervdl · 04/24/2007, 07:51 PM

I have read before that there is potentially detrius collecting in the crushed coral bed and causing nitrates to accumulate.

mkhordiav · 05/06/2007, 06:27 PM

Just replaced my bulbs this week also. I had grown lazy in remembering that PC bulbs weaken their spectrum over time. I haven't replaced mine in about year and a half. These old lamps definitely could have been a source of high nitrates and algae growth?

-Dmitri

IslandCrow · 05/06/2007, 07:32 PM

It's the decaying detritus that can get trapped in crushed coral that causes high nitrates. As for old bulbs, I don't believe that causes high nitrates, but it does promote algae growth.

mkhordiav · 05/06/2007, 07:47 PM

I have been planning to get rid of the CC for a couple of months now. I've heard about not to disrupt a CC/DSB because it can mess up the chemistry?

What would be the easiest (on the fish) way to remove the CC bed, or should I just start shovelling it out?

I'm planning to goto Aragonite sand bed.

drummereef · 05/06/2007, 09:15 PM

You should be vacuuming the crushed coral at every water change. It will trap detritus and cause the nitrate problem. I would vacuum it thoroughly over the next few water changes before trying to remove the cc, or you'll release a whole bunch of gunk into the water column. I would recommend taking it out slowly over a couple weeks. Then you can go ahead and add the aragonite sand. A pvc pipe with a funnel will help to put the new sand in without a huge sand storm.

FLReefGirl · 05/06/2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

drummereef - A pvc pipe with a funnel will help to put the new sand in without a huge sand storm.

That's a GREAT tip.
Thanks.

drummereef · 05/06/2007, 10:45 PM

victor_c3 · 05/07/2007, 06:54 AM

To get rid of the crushed coral, just suck it out with a siphon when you're doing water changes.

I did this with my 30 gallon tank and its amazing how dirty the tub my wastewater went into was. It looked like I pulled the water right out of a muddy puddle and it stunk worse than any dirty beach I've ever been on - and my tank has only been running since January.

After about 3 water changes, most of the crushed coral is out and I've noticed that my corals are doing much better.

Frick-n-Frags · 05/07/2007, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mkhordiav
Just replaced my bulbs this week also. I had grown lazy in remembering that PC bulbs weaken their spectrum over time. I haven't replaced mine in about year and a half. These old lamps definitely could have been a source of high nitrates and algae growth?

-Dmitri

??????

i would guess the sandbed is full of rotting crap that is breaking down and releasing nitrates as a by-product.

r0bin · 05/07/2007, 08:09 AM

I am in the same boat here. What type of sand should I use to replace the bed. I dont like the bare bottom thing. Also how deep should the sand be? Also what about the coral that has worked its way under my rock? Do I just leave that alone? I really dont wnat to move all the rock around or take it out.

FLReefGirl · 05/07/2007, 09:15 AM

I have a aragonite crushed coral (that's what the bag said) substrate in my 55 gal. My nitrates usually run about 5-10 which is not a big deal. I do weekly 10 gal water changes and I vacuum the crushed coral. Yes, I vacuum every week. My tank has been up for 5 months and so far no ill effects with the vacuuming. My pod populating is good so vacuuming has not wiped them out. If I find my nitrates creep past 10 (which they usually don't) I do a 15 gal water change instead of 10 so I can vacuum the crushed coral more.
Ideally it would be best to change out the sand to aragonite fine sand but I'm just not comfortable yet with disturbing the entire system to do so. One day I'll get the nerve to do it.

As for type, I hear Aragomax is good.

04/24/2007, 06:36 PM	#1
mkhordiav Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Denver Posts: 23	Nitrates in Crushed Coral? Is it possible for nitrates to reside in a crushed coral bed? I've been pulling my hair out trying to discover the source of my high nitrates (80-100ppm). Here are the water specs: Salinity 1.024 Ammonia: 0ppm Nitrites: 0ppm Nitrates: 80-100ppm Water Temp 80deg. I'm running a CSS125 full time, and not overfeeding my trigger. I'm using RO water, that reads no nitrates either. I've done massive water changes, only to see it drop by 10-20ppm. The only other thing I can think of is my 2" deep crushed coral bed is laden with them? Maybe it's time to replace it with aragonite? Thanks for the advice! -Dmitri __________________ Senior Men's 1000m Bronze medallist, Cup of Russia 2001 Master of Sport Award, 2001 http://www.speedskating.ru/en/20002001/rc6omsk.html Current Tank Info: 50gal, "Toddler" Picasso Trigger Last edited by mkhordiav; 04/24/2007 at 06:41 PM.

04/24/2007, 07:31 PM	#2
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	In my 58gal I have a CC sandbed and 0 Nitrates (Salifert) tank has been running for over 6 years now. However, when I do my weekly water changes I vac. the sand bed. IMO, the is the key when using CC as a sandbed. If you are not vacuuming it, I would have to guess that that is the cause of your high nitrates. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

04/24/2007, 07:51 PM	#3
supervdl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,315	I have read before that there is potentially detrius collecting in the crushed coral bed and causing nitrates to accumulate. __________________ My tank thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1167897 Current Tank Info: 135 gal mixed reef with Radions and Zeovit; 210 gal SPS reef being set up

05/06/2007, 06:27 PM	#4
mkhordiav Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Denver Posts: 23	Just replaced my bulbs this week also. I had grown lazy in remembering that PC bulbs weaken their spectrum over time. I haven't replaced mine in about year and a half. These old lamps definitely could have been a source of high nitrates and algae growth? -Dmitri __________________ Senior Men's 1000m Bronze medallist, Cup of Russia 2001 Master of Sport Award, 2001 http://www.speedskating.ru/en/20002001/rc6omsk.html Current Tank Info: 50gal, "Toddler" Picasso Trigger

05/06/2007, 07:32 PM	#5
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	It's the decaying detritus that can get trapped in crushed coral that causes high nitrates. As for old bulbs, I don't believe that causes high nitrates, but it does promote algae growth. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

05/06/2007, 07:47 PM	#6
mkhordiav Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Denver Posts: 23	I have been planning to get rid of the CC for a couple of months now. I've heard about not to disrupt a CC/DSB because it can mess up the chemistry? What would be the easiest (on the fish) way to remove the CC bed, or should I just start shovelling it out? I'm planning to goto Aragonite sand bed. __________________ Senior Men's 1000m Bronze medallist, Cup of Russia 2001 Master of Sport Award, 2001 http://www.speedskating.ru/en/20002001/rc6omsk.html Current Tank Info: 50gal, "Toddler" Picasso Trigger

05/06/2007, 09:15 PM	#7
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	You should be vacuuming the crushed coral at every water change. It will trap detritus and cause the nitrate problem. I would vacuum it thoroughly over the next few water changes before trying to remove the cc, or you'll release a whole bunch of gunk into the water column. I would recommend taking it out slowly over a couple weeks. Then you can go ahead and add the aragonite sand. A pvc pipe with a funnel will help to put the new sand in without a huge sand storm. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

05/06/2007, 10:45 PM	#9
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	__________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

05/07/2007, 06:54 AM	#10
victor_c3 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New York Posts: 513	To get rid of the crushed coral, just suck it out with a siphon when you're doing water changes. I did this with my 30 gallon tank and its amazing how dirty the tub my wastewater went into was. It looked like I pulled the water right out of a muddy puddle and it stunk worse than any dirty beach I've ever been on - and my tank has only been running since January. After about 3 water changes, most of the crushed coral is out and I've noticed that my corals are doing much better.

05/07/2007, 08:09 AM	#12
r0bin Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,132	I am in the same boat here. What type of sand should I use to replace the bed. I dont like the bare bottom thing. Also how deep should the sand be? Also what about the coral that has worked its way under my rock? Do I just leave that alone? I really dont wnat to move all the rock around or take it out.

05/07/2007, 09:15 AM	#13
FLReefGirl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lake Mary, FL Posts: 514	I have a aragonite crushed coral (that's what the bag said) substrate in my 55 gal. My nitrates usually run about 5-10 which is not a big deal. I do weekly 10 gal water changes and I vacuum the crushed coral. Yes, I vacuum every week. My tank has been up for 5 months and so far no ill effects with the vacuuming. My pod populating is good so vacuuming has not wiped them out. If I find my nitrates creep past 10 (which they usually don't) I do a 15 gal water change instead of 10 so I can vacuum the crushed coral more. Ideally it would be best to change out the sand to aragonite fine sand but I'm just not comfortable yet with disturbing the entire system to do so. One day I'll get the nerve to do it. As for type, I hear Aragomax is good.