High nitrates help. Shocking levels.

wcoast · 11/23/2009, 09:24 PM

Hey everyone! I've had my 45 gal small reef tank going for 6 months, then moved it to a new apartment 3 months ago. Everything made the move fine, but here's the deal: I had been running on hob filters (2) and power heads for chem filtration and 50lbs live rock and live sand bed (3") for bio filtration.
While running on this meager means of filtration for 6 months, I would change out 10 gallons each week. I use a good saltwater that I buy from my lfs here in Denver, one of the most reputable. I've tested this saltwater many times, and the nitrates are always 0. My water never got above 10ppm. Over this last weekend, I introduced a 7-8 gallon wet dry sump, no bioballs, just a few rocks from my tank, a carbon filter pad cut to size in the drip pan, and a prefilter in the overflow box. I haven't tested nitrates in a while, 1 month, because I have been regular with the water changes.

I test tonight and my nitrates are off the chart! Like 50-60ppm or possibly more! So I change out 10 gallons immediately with the same good saltwater that I normally use, and I am still reading high, very high. Hard to tell, but I'm guessing I diluted it to around 30-40ppm.. Everything in the tank looks great, did even before I discovered the crazy high levels when I got home today.

Any suggestions? Tomorrow I will change out 20 gallons to keep it under control, but I need some assistance, maybe a little guidance here on how to keep it safe.

Tank mates: 2 false perc clowns, scooter blenny, two spot blenny, 3 peppermint shrimp, 8 hermits-red & blue foot. Also a giant emerald crab.
My tank is also teaming with healthy critters, 2 very large brazilian tiger snails?? Think that's what they're called, but these guys are HUGE. I have some brains on my rock, a nice leather, zenia, and a new frogspawn.

Thanks for any help , and for reading this ridiculously long post. Oh, my tank cycle is wayyy over. I'll have to change my info....

Clue · 11/23/2009, 09:39 PM

Any chance the test kit is bad or expired? have you tried testing with a new kit?

wcoast · 11/23/2009, 09:46 PM

Thought about that, but also tested the water I was changing with and it tested 0. Wouldn't everything essentially be dead if the nitrates were really as high as 50-70ppm?

I'll take a sample in to the lfs for testing tomorrow I guess...
I have just never tested this high...

kcbonsai_matt · 11/23/2009, 10:19 PM

Do your water change and add some cheato if possible. Take a sample of your water to the LFS and have them test it. If your not seeing any stress to your inhabitants, then I wouldn't go overboard with the water changes, but maybe do them a little more often or a change a higher % of your water each time until they are down to normal.

Clue · 11/23/2009, 10:22 PM

^^ agreed Definitely get a second opinion on your parameters

daddy'sgirl · 11/23/2009, 10:23 PM

I would get a protein skimmer. My nitrates were always high(40-50), until I started using a protein skimmer. They're still not down to 0 yet, but they're on their way.

wcoast · 11/23/2009, 10:24 PM

Thanks for the reply, I'm from Overland Park, KS by the way...
I'm not seeing any stress at all, and all other levels are testing great..
Starting to think it may be a bad nitrate testing solution... Funny, but my
corals are actually looking better than normal since I introduced the sump.

bertoni · 11/23/2009, 11:20 PM

If you have access to a nitrite test kit, that might be useful to run. Nitrite can confuse nitrate test kits. I agree that a second opinion might be useful, but nitrate isn't toxic, so I'm not all that surprised. Water changes tend to be useless, since the nitrate level usually bounces back up very rapidly.

wcoast · 11/24/2009, 12:02 AM

Bertoni, you are on to something here, don't know why I failed to test nitrite ,but I am showing a touch ( less than 0.25 ppm) of nitrite. Ammonia is at 0. I wonder if this could be from introducing the sump. Bought it used, along with a used pump, but cleaned them both thoroughly... at least I thought. This is no doubt a factor I guess.
I'll just change another 10 gallons instead of a whole 20 tomorrow... don't want to do too much at once. I'll be keeping a close eye on this. Thanks again

lifesareef4sure · 11/24/2009, 12:13 AM

Did you soak the equipment or just rinse it? I doubt the equipment, even if dirty would contribute to that high nitrates, but then again you never know. Good luck.

bertoni · 11/25/2009, 01:18 PM

Okay, let us know how it goes.

scuba guy ron · 11/25/2009, 02:09 PM

Removing any prefilter sponges will help in reducing nitrates. This can be a very easy way to reduce. If you haven't cleaned them they could deffinitly be a contributor

11/23/2009, 09:24 PM	#1
wcoast Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Denver Posts: 37	High nitrates help. Shocking levels. Hey everyone! I've had my 45 gal small reef tank going for 6 months, then moved it to a new apartment 3 months ago. Everything made the move fine, but here's the deal: I had been running on hob filters (2) and power heads for chem filtration and 50lbs live rock and live sand bed (3") for bio filtration. While running on this meager means of filtration for 6 months, I would change out 10 gallons each week. I use a good saltwater that I buy from my lfs here in Denver, one of the most reputable. I've tested this saltwater many times, and the nitrates are always 0. My water never got above 10ppm. Over this last weekend, I introduced a 7-8 gallon wet dry sump, no bioballs, just a few rocks from my tank, a carbon filter pad cut to size in the drip pan, and a prefilter in the overflow box. I haven't tested nitrates in a while, 1 month, because I have been regular with the water changes. I test tonight and my nitrates are off the chart! Like 50-60ppm or possibly more! So I change out 10 gallons immediately with the same good saltwater that I normally use, and I am still reading high, very high. Hard to tell, but I'm guessing I diluted it to around 30-40ppm.. Everything in the tank looks great, did even before I discovered the crazy high levels when I got home today. Any suggestions? Tomorrow I will change out 20 gallons to keep it under control, but I need some assistance, maybe a little guidance here on how to keep it safe. Tank mates: 2 false perc clowns, scooter blenny, two spot blenny, 3 peppermint shrimp, 8 hermits-red & blue foot. Also a giant emerald crab. My tank is also teaming with healthy critters, 2 very large brazilian tiger snails?? Think that's what they're called, but these guys are HUGE. I have some brains on my rock, a nice leather, zenia, and a new frogspawn. Thanks for any help , and for reading this ridiculously long post. Oh, my tank cycle is wayyy over. I'll have to change my info.... __________________ Wes C. Current Tank Info: 65 gallon reef tank, LPS, soft corals, fish and inverts. Last edited by wcoast; 11/23/2009 at 09:25 PM. Reason: edit

11/23/2009, 09:39 PM	#2
Clue Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 66	Any chance the test kit is bad or expired? have you tried testing with a new kit? __________________ Matt

11/23/2009, 09:46 PM	#3
wcoast Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Denver Posts: 37	Thought about that, but also tested the water I was changing with and it tested 0. Wouldn't everything essentially be dead if the nitrates were really as high as 50-70ppm? I'll take a sample in to the lfs for testing tomorrow I guess... I have just never tested this high... __________________ Wes C. Current Tank Info: 65 gallon reef tank, LPS, soft corals, fish and inverts.

11/23/2009, 10:22 PM	#5
Clue Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 66	^^ agreed Definitely get a second opinion on your parameters __________________ Matt

11/23/2009, 10:24 PM	#7
wcoast Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Denver Posts: 37	Thanks for the reply, I'm from Overland Park, KS by the way... I'm not seeing any stress at all, and all other levels are testing great.. Starting to think it may be a bad nitrate testing solution... Funny, but my corals are actually looking better than normal since I introduced the sump. __________________ Wes C. Current Tank Info: 65 gallon reef tank, LPS, soft corals, fish and inverts.

11/23/2009, 10:19 PM	#4
kcbonsai_matt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 54	Do your water change and add some cheato if possible. Take a sample of your water to the LFS and have them test it. If your not seeing any stress to your inhabitants, then I wouldn't go overboard with the water changes, but maybe do them a little more often or a change a higher % of your water each time until they are down to normal.

11/23/2009, 10:23 PM	#6
daddy'sgirl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fairbanks, Ak Posts: 44	I would get a protein skimmer. My nitrates were always high(40-50), until I started using a protein skimmer. They're still not down to 0 yet, but they're on their way.

11/23/2009, 11:20 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If you have access to a nitrite test kit, that might be useful to run. Nitrite can confuse nitrate test kits. I agree that a second opinion might be useful, but nitrate isn't toxic, so I'm not all that surprised. Water changes tend to be useless, since the nitrate level usually bounces back up very rapidly. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/24/2009, 12:02 AM	#9
wcoast Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Denver Posts: 37	Bertoni, you are on to something here, don't know why I failed to test nitrite ,but I am showing a touch ( less than 0.25 ppm) of nitrite. Ammonia is at 0. I wonder if this could be from introducing the sump. Bought it used, along with a used pump, but cleaned them both thoroughly... at least I thought. This is no doubt a factor I guess. I'll just change another 10 gallons instead of a whole 20 tomorrow... don't want to do too much at once. I'll be keeping a close eye on this. Thanks again __________________ Wes C. Current Tank Info: 65 gallon reef tank, LPS, soft corals, fish and inverts.

11/24/2009, 12:13 AM	#10
lifesareef4sure Moved On Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 26	Did you soak the equipment or just rinse it? I doubt the equipment, even if dirty would contribute to that high nitrates, but then again you never know. Good luck.

11/25/2009, 01:18 PM	#11
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Okay, let us know how it goes. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/25/2009, 02:09 PM	#12
scuba guy ron Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 1,455	Removing any prefilter sponges will help in reducing nitrates. This can be a very easy way to reduce. If you haven't cleaned them they could deffinitly be a contributor __________________ Ron Current Tank Info: 6yr old 37 Gallon Column mixed reef