Nitrate Mgmt?

reefamundo · 08/16/2009, 12:00 AM

I am having difficulty getting my nitrates under control. My nitrates seem to stay about 40 even though I am doing a 20% water change every two weeks. I have had my tank setup for 6 months and I bought it used so the LR has been in place for approx 3 years. I have a 120g with a 55 sump, approx 100-150 lbs of LR, a large yellow tang, 2 sm. chromi's, 2 clown fish, 2 small blue hepatus tangs, 1 royal gramma, and a lawnmower blenny. I also have lots of blue leg hermits and 2-3 dozen snails. I also have 8 zoa frags, 2 med hammer corals, and and a couple small SPS.

I am feeding half sheet of nori every other day (in a clip). In addition, every day I give them either a cube of Ocean Nutrition Formula Two, 3-4 pinches of dry Marine Pellets, or 2 pinches of flakes. I attempt to alternate these so they get different food each day. Any ideas on how I can drastically reduce my nitrates? Thanks -Jeff

Taino Man · 08/16/2009, 01:03 AM

Hello Jeff,

I'd cut flakes out altogether, and give them some cyclopeze, or mysis shrimp.

Do you have any macro algae in your sump?

I found that my nitrates dropped off substantially when i stopped feeding them in my reef tank. Have not used flakes since, been 5 years.

I feed Nori as well, but i feed a 2x3 inch square once a day. Or twice if my omnivores are eating it up fast.

Hope this helps.

lombard0 · 08/16/2009, 07:48 AM

How small are those 2 blue hapatus tangs? Can you list down your tank's overall filtration system?

scuba guy ron · 08/16/2009, 08:05 AM

good question. I feed flake every other day and have had the same problem for the past two years with no ill effects thank god. my nits are reading at 25 rite now but i wonder if there is a coralation with the flake. I dont feed as much though. only a pinch ot 2 every other day. which kind do you use. I use aquatrol spirulina.

stingythingy45 · 08/16/2009, 08:18 AM

Cut out the flake and substitute with frozen mysis.
Your not giving the blue hepatus tangs the right diet.They are more carnivor than herbavore.
I would say lose one of the tangs.
What do you have for a skimmer?
Chaeto in the fug?
Sand bed depth?

reefamundo · 08/17/2009, 10:26 PM

Gang, thanks for the ideas and questions. Here's what I have:
- the two blue tangs are 1" and 1.5", although they are growing rapidly. from the research I have done, I believe they are herbivores.
- For filtration, I have a 55g sump. I have a "sock" filter draining into 1/3 of the sump containing LR, the middle section is sand bed (approx 3-4" deep), and the last section has my Coralife Super Skimmer, heater, and return pump.
- No chaeto. I tried a little a few months ago, but it died. I have a small 18" 2 bulb light fixture in the sump on the night shift. Not sure if it's enough light. -Jeff

lombard0 · 08/18/2009, 08:25 AM

Most hobbyists have the skimmer at the first section of the sump. I'm kind of curious why you have it yours at the last compartment. Do you see a lot of detritus and/or any floating stuff in your sump's LR & sandbed section? What's the skimmate you're getting in a daily/weekly basis?

Also, what's the wattage of the "small 18" 2 bulb light fixture" that you used before for the chaeto? Do you consider other macroalgae such as caulerpa species? How about turf scrubber?

reefamundo · 08/18/2009, 10:33 AM

No real reason to have the skimmer in the last section other than that's the way it was setup when I bought it. I can't see any detritus in the LR or sandbed, but I do have the sock filter on the return pipe.

As far as skimmate, I have to empty the cup about every 4-5 days or so.

I'll check on the light fixture tonight, and I haven't really looked at other macroalgae. I'd be interested in a reference article or two. Thanks -Jeff

reefamundo · 08/20/2009, 07:28 PM

OK, so one night turned into a few ... and apparently the beer or something must be taking its toll on my brain cells ... maybe it's the saltwater. My 2 bulb 18" sump light is really a 1 bulb 16". Turns out it's 40 Watts. Is that good or bad for growing macroalgae?

On the good side of things, I quit adding flakes, and my nitrates are down to 20! Not bad since they were 80 a few weeks ago. I'll keep up with the 20% water changes and see if I can get it down to 10. That might be somewhat up to my blue legged hermits ... if only they would quit munching on my snails.

Popeye · 08/20/2009, 08:34 PM

Also, check your top off water. If you are using tap water instead of RO/DI water you may be adding nitrates (and phosphates) every time you do a water change. Most likely though, I think, the bioload (i.e.,feeding)/filtering is at the heart of the problem.

reefamundo · 08/21/2009, 05:38 PM

Good thought, but I am already using RO/DI and my TDS are <3. Thanks for the thought.

08/16/2009, 12:00 AM	#1
reefamundo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 52	Nitrate Mgmt? I am having difficulty getting my nitrates under control. My nitrates seem to stay about 40 even though I am doing a 20% water change every two weeks. I have had my tank setup for 6 months and I bought it used so the LR has been in place for approx 3 years. I have a 120g with a 55 sump, approx 100-150 lbs of LR, a large yellow tang, 2 sm. chromi's, 2 clown fish, 2 small blue hepatus tangs, 1 royal gramma, and a lawnmower blenny. I also have lots of blue leg hermits and 2-3 dozen snails. I also have 8 zoa frags, 2 med hammer corals, and and a couple small SPS. I am feeding half sheet of nori every other day (in a clip). In addition, every day I give them either a cube of Ocean Nutrition Formula Two, 3-4 pinches of dry Marine Pellets, or 2 pinches of flakes. I attempt to alternate these so they get different food each day. Any ideas on how I can drastically reduce my nitrates? Thanks -Jeff

08/16/2009, 01:03 AM	#2
Taino Man Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 166	Hello Jeff, I'd cut flakes out altogether, and give them some cyclopeze, or mysis shrimp. Do you have any macro algae in your sump? I found that my nitrates dropped off substantially when i stopped feeding them in my reef tank. Have not used flakes since, been 5 years. I feed Nori as well, but i feed a 2x3 inch square once a day. Or twice if my omnivores are eating it up fast. Hope this helps. __________________ Live For Today, Hope For Tomorrow!!! Current Tank Info: No Tank at the moment. Will be setting up an Innovative Marine 50 Gallon EXT very soon.

08/16/2009, 08:05 AM	#4
scuba guy ron Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 1,455	good question. I feed flake every other day and have had the same problem for the past two years with no ill effects thank god. my nits are reading at 25 rite now but i wonder if there is a coralation with the flake. I dont feed as much though. only a pinch ot 2 every other day. which kind do you use. I use aquatrol spirulina. __________________ Ron Current Tank Info: 6yr old 37 Gallon Column mixed reef

08/16/2009, 08:18 AM	#5
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	Cut out the flake and substitute with frozen mysis. Your not giving the blue hepatus tangs the right diet.They are more carnivor than herbavore. I would say lose one of the tangs. What do you have for a skimmer? Chaeto in the fug? Sand bed depth? __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

08/16/2009, 07:48 AM	#3
lombard0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 319	How small are those 2 blue hapatus tangs? Can you list down your tank's overall filtration system?

08/17/2009, 10:26 PM	#6
reefamundo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 52	Gang, thanks for the ideas and questions. Here's what I have: - the two blue tangs are 1" and 1.5", although they are growing rapidly. from the research I have done, I believe they are herbivores. - For filtration, I have a 55g sump. I have a "sock" filter draining into 1/3 of the sump containing LR, the middle section is sand bed (approx 3-4" deep), and the last section has my Coralife Super Skimmer, heater, and return pump. - No chaeto. I tried a little a few months ago, but it died. I have a small 18" 2 bulb light fixture in the sump on the night shift. Not sure if it's enough light. -Jeff

08/18/2009, 08:25 AM	#7
lombard0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 319	Most hobbyists have the skimmer at the first section of the sump. I'm kind of curious why you have it yours at the last compartment. Do you see a lot of detritus and/or any floating stuff in your sump's LR & sandbed section? What's the skimmate you're getting in a daily/weekly basis? Also, what's the wattage of the "small 18" 2 bulb light fixture" that you used before for the chaeto? Do you consider other macroalgae such as caulerpa species? How about turf scrubber?

08/18/2009, 10:33 AM	#8
reefamundo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 52	No real reason to have the skimmer in the last section other than that's the way it was setup when I bought it. I can't see any detritus in the LR or sandbed, but I do have the sock filter on the return pipe. As far as skimmate, I have to empty the cup about every 4-5 days or so. I'll check on the light fixture tonight, and I haven't really looked at other macroalgae. I'd be interested in a reference article or two. Thanks -Jeff

08/20/2009, 07:28 PM	#9
reefamundo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 52	OK, so one night turned into a few ... and apparently the beer or something must be taking its toll on my brain cells ... maybe it's the saltwater. My 2 bulb 18" sump light is really a 1 bulb 16". Turns out it's 40 Watts. Is that good or bad for growing macroalgae? On the good side of things, I quit adding flakes, and my nitrates are down to 20! Not bad since they were 80 a few weeks ago. I'll keep up with the 20% water changes and see if I can get it down to 10. That might be somewhat up to my blue legged hermits ... if only they would quit munching on my snails.

08/20/2009, 08:34 PM	#10
Popeye Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Boston Posts: 90	Also, check your top off water. If you are using tap water instead of RO/DI water you may be adding nitrates (and phosphates) every time you do a water change. Most likely though, I think, the bioload (i.e.,feeding)/filtering is at the heart of the problem.

08/21/2009, 05:38 PM	#11
reefamundo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 52	Good thought, but I am already using RO/DI and my TDS are <3. Thanks for the thought.