Some issues with tank

[justinf67]

So, my tank has been up since May, although i upgraded from a 28g bowfront to a 40g breeder. I also upgraded my fuge from a 10g to a 20g... I have battled with high nitrates and cyano. I have made many mistakes along the way... Not quarantining a fish, caused a death and possible ich a little while ago, along with adding dry reef rock from my lfs that Im pretty sure has leached phosphates into my tank...

I posted a little while ago about my nitrates being around 20-30ppm and that has not changed. I do weekly or bi weekly watcer changes of either 5g or 10g....Since my last topic on nitrates, I have added an old skimmer and its def pulling some dark greenish/brown stuff out. I have a ball of chaeto that I got a few months ago from reefcleaners with my snail order that has just done nothing. I originally had it on a reverse cycle with the main display, but it didnt get any larger and didnt seem to pull any nitrates out. I stopped lighting the chaeto to see what would happen and nothing. It hasnt died off or gotten larger...What am I doing wrong? Is it just a bad strain of chaeto? Should I have been lighting it 24 hours? I was lighting it with 2 6500k bulbs...

Also, the cyano drives me crazy. I can keep it under control if I do a 2-3 day lights out, but it never fully disappears. I use ro from my lfs each and every time...oh, I added chemi-pure elite today, to try and help if any phosphates have leached...

[isildursbane]

I do know that Cyano thrives in places of little to no current. It is recommended to increase the flow in areas where cyano is growing. That being said, your nitrate issue needs to be dealt with. I would go back to running the chaeto on a reverse cycle like you were and just let that be for now.

What type of food are you feeding and how often? Definately keep on top of the water changes until your nitrAtes come down to acceptable levels. I would do at least 10g per week and more if you are still showing nitrAtes above 5 or 10. Another thing you should do is take a sample of your water to High Tide and have them test the nitrAtes (and everything else while you are there) for you, just to rule out a bad test kit you may have.

From the Reef Chemistry Forum:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1379607
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

For these reasons, most reef aquarists strive to keep nitrate levels down. A good target is less than 0.2 ppm nitrate. Reef aquaria can function acceptably at much higher nitrate levels (say, 20 ppm), but run greater risks of the problems described above.

There are many ways to reduce nitrate, including reducing the aquarium's nitrogen inputs, increasing nitrogen export by skimming, increasing nitrogen export by growing and harvesting macroalgae or turf algae (or any other organism of your choice), using a deep sand bed, removing existing filters designed to facilitate the nitrogen cycle, using a carbon denitrator, using a sulfur denitrator, using AZ-NO3, using nitrate absorbing solids, and using polymers and carbon that bind organics. All of these methods are described in more detail in a previous article.

[steamman]

Maybe you should test the water you are getting from your local fish store. They may not be replacing their filters correctly and you are basically paying for tap water.

[justinf67]

I run a korailia 1050 evo for flow, and the output from the sump, but that doesnt really count. I also have a maxijet 1200, but im not using it on the tank right now...Should I add more flow to the tank?

I will up the water changes to at least 10g a week till i get a handle on the nitrates. I seem to be doing all the right things now. I have a skimmer, a large fuge, chaeto, etc... I only have one fish, my nitrates shouldnt be high, lol... Would lighting the chaeto 24 hours help or hurt?

steamman, I have wondered about the RO water I get from the lfs already. I need to test the TDS of it, as I am prob paying for water thats not great.

[Jstdv8]

Originally Posted by steamman

Maybe you should test the water you are getting from your local fish store. They may not be replacing their filters correctly and you are basically paying for tap water.

Agreed,
have them test it in front of you for TDS or you can get a smaple and bring it to a water purification store and have them test it.
it's easiest and most likley cheaper to make your own water and test your own water.

[isildursbane]

Originally Posted by justinf67

I also have a maxijet 1200, but im not using it on the tank right now...Should I add more flow to the tank?

It would not hurt to put the MJ 1200 in the tank and get it to where it creates a good flow where the Cyano is growing. Also, where are you getting your water from?

[justinf67]

I get my water from either Cutting Edge or Carols....Depends on which is closer...Does High Tide sell water as well? Im gonna stop into High Tide prob on Fri, Ill take a sample of my water and the RO I get...They have a TDS meter, right?