Nitrate Help.

Jonnybucko · 11/11/2010, 12:06 AM

My 50 gallon FOWLR tank has been up and running for almost a year. I recently bought a really nice lighting system, with hopes of starting slowly with some corals. I have 2 Koralia Pumps 600 gallons per hour. Im running a bak-pak protein skimmer. I perform regular water changes, 10% per week. I have 11 fish (5 green chromis, false percula, yellowtail blue damsel, banghi cardinal, cave goby, scooter blennie, flasher wrasse.) I also have a chocolate chip starfish, 6 hermit crabs, 6 nassarius snails, 3 turbo snails, 2 feather dusters, 1 cocoa worm.) No matter what I do, I can't get my nitrate level below 80ppm. I only use RO/DI water. HELP!!!!!!!!

nvdiz · 11/11/2010, 12:51 AM

what test kits are u using?

Jonnybucko · 11/11/2010, 12:53 AM

Api

aleonn · 11/11/2010, 02:10 AM

All the livestock has been doing well? With nitrates at 80, I'd expect some signs of stress from fish and especially inverts. I'm thinking your test kit may be expired. I'd bring a water sample to the LFS, or purchase a Salifert test kit to confirm the readings. Then evaluate from there.

Uncle Salty 05 · 11/11/2010, 10:18 AM

I have seen fish that looked fine with over 160 ppm nitrate. (blood red on API test kit)
You are probably overfeeding and your skimmer is inadequate.
Cut back on your feeding, do more frequent water changes and upgrade your skimmer when you can.

Jonnybucko · 11/11/2010, 11:57 AM

I haven't lost anything in a very long time. I only feed one cube of mysis per day for 11 fish. I perform a 10% water change once a week?

CueMusic · 11/11/2010, 12:24 PM

becareful with the chocolate ship star. i had one that ate everything.

Shaqinwi 65 · 11/11/2010, 12:38 PM

I've had high nitrates even though I was doing all the prescribed things right finaly I used AZ-N03 to lower them and they stayed low but it took the AZ-no3 to et them down

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=776939

good luck

Uncle Salty 05 · 11/12/2010, 07:25 AM

If mysis is your fish's only food source their nutritional needs are not being met. You need to vary their diet as much as possible.
11 fish in a 50 is a pretty hefty bioload.
Do you vacuum you sand bed when you do water changes?
You might want to increase your water changes to 20% until your nitrates come down.

Palting · 11/12/2010, 07:40 AM

Interesting read about getting high nitrates down quickly. Puts a dent in a common belief: http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/nit...ereduction.htm

Uncle Salty 05 · 11/12/2010, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

Interesting read about getting high nitrates down quickly. Puts a dent in a common belief: http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/nit...ereduction.htm

That is a good read and if followed to the letter it should work fine.
The question is how did the nitrates get high to begin with?
If husbandry habits are not changed you will end up back where you started.

11/11/2010, 12:06 AM	#1
Jonnybucko Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 88	Nitrate Help. My 50 gallon FOWLR tank has been up and running for almost a year. I recently bought a really nice lighting system, with hopes of starting slowly with some corals. I have 2 Koralia Pumps 600 gallons per hour. Im running a bak-pak protein skimmer. I perform regular water changes, 10% per week. I have 11 fish (5 green chromis, false percula, yellowtail blue damsel, banghi cardinal, cave goby, scooter blennie, flasher wrasse.) I also have a chocolate chip starfish, 6 hermit crabs, 6 nassarius snails, 3 turbo snails, 2 feather dusters, 1 cocoa worm.) No matter what I do, I can't get my nitrate level below 80ppm. I only use RO/DI water. HELP!!!!!!!!

11/11/2010, 12:51 AM	#2
nvdiz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Skokie Posts: 1,345	what test kits are u using? __________________ Nano Cube 24 <----- Look at pics in my albums Current Tank Info: SPS Biocube 29

11/11/2010, 10:18 AM	#5
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	I have seen fish that looked fine with over 160 ppm nitrate. (blood red on API test kit) You are probably overfeeding and your skimmer is inadequate. Cut back on your feeding, do more frequent water changes and upgrade your skimmer when you can. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

11/12/2010, 07:25 AM	#9
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	If mysis is your fish's only food source their nutritional needs are not being met. You need to vary their diet as much as possible. 11 fish in a 50 is a pretty hefty bioload. Do you vacuum you sand bed when you do water changes? You might want to increase your water changes to 20% until your nitrates come down. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

11/12/2010, 07:40 AM	#10
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Interesting read about getting high nitrates down quickly. Puts a dent in a common belief: http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/nit...ereduction.htm __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

11/11/2010, 12:53 AM	#3
Jonnybucko Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 88	Api

11/11/2010, 02:10 AM	#4
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	All the livestock has been doing well? With nitrates at 80, I'd expect some signs of stress from fish and especially inverts. I'm thinking your test kit may be expired. I'd bring a water sample to the LFS, or purchase a Salifert test kit to confirm the readings. Then evaluate from there.

11/11/2010, 11:57 AM	#6
Jonnybucko Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 88	I haven't lost anything in a very long time. I only feed one cube of mysis per day for 11 fish. I perform a 10% water change once a week?

11/11/2010, 12:24 PM	#7
CueMusic Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lansdale PA Posts: 110	becareful with the chocolate ship star. i had one that ate everything.

11/11/2010, 12:38 PM	#8
Shaqinwi 65 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 52	I've had high nitrates even though I was doing all the prescribed things right finaly I used AZ-N03 to lower them and they stayed low but it took the AZ-no3 to et them down http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=776939 good luck

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