nitrates!

raggie · 02/12/2009, 08:49 PM

the tank is about 5 months old and the cycle finnished in less then a month and out of no where the nitrates slow started to rise so i added carbon in the sump and they went down no i took the carbon out and they started to rise slowly Why wont they stay down! i have no ammonium or anything in the tank all prams are perfect but nitrates
95lbs of rock
and about 30lbs of very fine white sand

livestock
bulletgobby
yellow tang
****** trigger
one random goby
perculo clown
2 chromis
in a 95 gallon tank

any advice???

ohhh and cyno just broke out in my tank!

spleify · 02/12/2009, 10:07 PM

What are your nitrates at? How much, and how often do you feed? What are your water change habits? How much how often? Information like this is what we are going to need to help you.

I doubt the carbon has anything to do with your nitrate fluctuations.

nikon187 · 02/12/2009, 11:00 PM

i don't think carbon removes nitrates, just polishes your water and removes medication and such.. We need to know more about your system and your maintenence to help with your nitrate problem

an411 · 02/12/2009, 11:07 PM

carbon just polishes the water as mentioned above. I would say that most likely you are overfeeding. Some how these nitrates are getting into the tank and more then likely its through decaying food. One thing that I like to do is turkey baste over the rock so its gets all the crap off the rock before I do a water change.

mrter · 02/12/2009, 11:10 PM

Nitrate won't go away on it's own. Nitrates are added to your tank as a byproduct of bacteria breaking down ammonia and Nitrites. If your not exporting nitrate somehow, then cyano or algae will start growing to do the job for you.

You should be doing regular water changes to bring Nitrate levels down. Another good way is to add macroalgae to your tank, which will break it down into Nitrogen gas.

possys · 02/13/2009, 12:16 AM

I only feed my fish 3 or 4 times a week. and those fish would alway find something to eat at the LR.

Michael · 02/13/2009, 12:20 AM

again, how high are your nitrates?, and how are you testing them?

mikersx02 · 02/13/2009, 06:40 AM

Ill be the one to recommend using seachem matrix rocks (comes in a jar in the chemical section of your better LFS stores) and put it actively in your sump. Its designed to get rid of nitrates without ever needing to be replaced. It exchanges nitrates into nitrogen i suppose.... i have it in my canister and it belches nitrogen a couple times a day...

02/12/2009, 08:49 PM	#1
raggie Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Churchville PA Posts: 142	nitrates! the tank is about 5 months old and the cycle finnished in less then a month and out of no where the nitrates slow started to rise so i added carbon in the sump and they went down no i took the carbon out and they started to rise slowly Why wont they stay down! i have no ammonium or anything in the tank all prams are perfect but nitrates 95lbs of rock and about 30lbs of very fine white sand livestock bulletgobby yellow tang ****** trigger one random goby perculo clown 2 chromis in a 95 gallon tank any advice??? ohhh and cyno just broke out in my tank! __________________ Shark Tanks Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon long reef tank, in process 1000+ shark tank

02/12/2009, 10:07 PM	#2
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	What are your nitrates at? How much, and how often do you feed? What are your water change habits? How much how often? Information like this is what we are going to need to help you. I doubt the carbon has anything to do with your nitrate fluctuations. __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

02/12/2009, 11:00 PM	#3
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	i don't think carbon removes nitrates, just polishes your water and removes medication and such.. We need to know more about your system and your maintenence to help with your nitrate problem __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

02/13/2009, 12:20 AM	#7
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	again, how high are your nitrates?, and how are you testing them? __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

02/12/2009, 11:07 PM	#4
an411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Derby CT Posts: 2,861	carbon just polishes the water as mentioned above. I would say that most likely you are overfeeding. Some how these nitrates are getting into the tank and more then likely its through decaying food. One thing that I like to do is turkey baste over the rock so its gets all the crap off the rock before I do a water change.

02/12/2009, 11:10 PM	#5
mrter Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 12	Nitrate won't go away on it's own. Nitrates are added to your tank as a byproduct of bacteria breaking down ammonia and Nitrites. If your not exporting nitrate somehow, then cyano or algae will start growing to do the job for you. You should be doing regular water changes to bring Nitrate levels down. Another good way is to add macroalgae to your tank, which will break it down into Nitrogen gas.

02/13/2009, 12:16 AM	#6
possys Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 188	I only feed my fish 3 or 4 times a week. and those fish would alway find something to eat at the LR.

02/13/2009, 06:40 AM	#8
mikersx02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 357	Ill be the one to recommend using seachem matrix rocks (comes in a jar in the chemical section of your better LFS stores) and put it actively in your sump. Its designed to get rid of nitrates without ever needing to be replaced. It exchanges nitrates into nitrogen i suppose.... i have it in my canister and it belches nitrogen a couple times a day...