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Unread 06/05/2007, 08:10 PM   #1
autrey
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Join Date: Jan 2003
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nitrate sources or baffeled in detroit

I have a 30gal tank thats been set up for about 6 months now and am curious about where a source for nitrates is coming up. I consistently measure 20-40ppm. I do weekly water changes of 5 gal. the past two weeks have been 15 gals. I am still measuring 20-40ppm nitrate. I have measured the ro water at 0ppm. I have measured the new mix of salt at 0ppm I have even taken ro water with and with out substrate in it. Out of the bag (washed) not from the tank; and let both samples sit covered for 2 weeks to see if the substrate has leached anything. I did get a small <5ppm reading of nitrate. Should I replace the substrate? would I expect some leaching from the substrate?


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Unread 06/05/2007, 08:43 PM   #2
BLockamon
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Is the substrate live sand or Arag-Alive? If so, it would be bacteria die-off.

What do you have in your tank? What is the filtration? How often and how much do you feed?

Most likely the cause of the nitrate is bioload and not the substrate.


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Unread 06/05/2007, 11:50 PM   #3
bertoni
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The problem is likely too much food going into the tank for the filtration to remove. One common approach to reduce nitrate is growing and harvesting a macroalga. Another is to reduce feeding, if appropriate. This article covers a lot of ideas:

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

I doubt that the substrate is the source of the problem.


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Unread 06/11/2007, 09:10 AM   #4
autrey
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Sorry it took a while to respond.

in regards to the substrate: its just arag about .5 inches deep

I have a pair of clowns in the tank

I have a tunze protien skimmer (nano), and an ehime cansiter filter on the tank

I clean the canister bi weekly. ( there has never been enough in the medium to warrent cleaning it every week)

I feed 1 or 2 daily mysis shrimp a couple of times per week I use selcon with it the quantity is about the size of a nickle


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Unread 06/11/2007, 09:28 AM   #5
mavgi
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Location: queens n.y
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this is my opinion

first cut the feeding to 1 time a day or feed every other day till the nitrate will reduce you have as you said pair of clown and i think you feed them to much half of the food become detritus and build nitrate.

in the past i have in my 46 gallon tank eheim canister filter to that i was clean it every week same as you do , IMO the canister filter are not good they build nitrate and not circulate the water in tank well , i change it to aqua clear hang on power filter and the result was better the circulation in the tank was more strong and the hang on filter put more oxygen to the system and help to keep the water surface more clean. you can also try to put hang on refuge with macroalgae that will help to reduce the nitrate.


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Unread 06/11/2007, 11:28 AM   #6
bertoni
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The Selcon is a very concentrated and a lot of it tends to go in the water column. I'd probably skip that for a while, and perhaps provide a more varied food supply.


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