bad nitrate problem

cassklar · 02/25/2011, 09:52 PM

About a week and half to I purchased an already establish 72 gallon bow front it came with fish some zoasand gsp I set up and and put my rock and sand from my 37 gallon and now the issue I have is a nitrate that test out over 150 everything is open and so far doing fine how do I lower my nitrate I have done 2 water changes the past week at 25 gallons per change should I do another.huge one maybe 60% ofmy water just don't know what to do your help is appreciated

10point · 02/25/2011, 10:28 PM

What type of filter system are you running on the new setup?

skairik · 02/25/2011, 10:29 PM

Don't get crazy with the water changes since nothing good happens fast in a reef tank. Continue with your water changes but take it down to like 10-15% per week. Secondly, your skimmer plays a role in NO3 reduction as well and it could be that it's just not up to the task. That said, what kind of skimmer is on your system? Thirdly, consider another NO3 reduction method, several of which are popularly successful, and then go from there. The method I chose for nutrient control (NO3/PO4) in my system was an aggressive skimmer (BK250) combined with a WM Zeovit reactor and MB7/carbon dosing. This method is considered ULNS (Ultra Low Nutrient System) and serves me well. I have 0 NO3/PO4 so it's hard to argue with this method. But as I've already stated there are other ways that work equally as well. Hopefully now that I've posted this other reefers will chime in on their methods of success.

cassklar · 02/25/2011, 11:34 PM

I have a reef octopus rated for 125 gallons also have a phosban reactor with ecko bad pellets also a refugium with chaeto algae I don't know if I got a spike yesterday when I had to rearrange some of my live rock in my tank I am just hoping I could bring it down some it is at a high level

skairik · 02/26/2011, 12:18 AM

Sounds as if you did experience a spike. Only way to know for sure is to keep monitoring your NO3. Definitely keep up with your water changes in the interim and if after X amount of weeks your NO3 is holding steady with no sign of declining then you should look into another method of nutrient control that you can incorporate into your existing method.

madreef_7K · 02/26/2011, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skairik

Secondly, your skimmer plays a role in NO3 reduction as well and it could be that it's just not up to the task. That said, what kind of skimmer is on your system? Thirdly, consider another NO3 reduction method, several of which are popularly successful, and then go from there. The method I chose for nutrient control (NO3/PO4) in my system was an aggressive skimmer (BK250)....

How does skimmer lowers the nitrates? I always thought skimmer just takes out DOCs. Nitrates are in the form of dissolved inorganics!!!

Geeray · 02/26/2011, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madreef_7K

How does skimmer lowers the nitrates? I always thought skimmer just takes out DOCs. Nitrates are in the form of dissolved inorganics!!!

the skimmer removes debris before it turns into nitrates.

Thatnewguy · 02/26/2011, 04:26 PM

You might have started a mini cycle due to moving rocks and disturbing the sand bed. Was the sand new and cleaned?

That being said, when i removed my sand bed (yes slowly over a course of 2 weeks) and put some new rocks in, i saw my nitrate spike just a little bit. I just changed my water 10% every 3-4 days with GFO and Carbon running and within a couple weeks your # should go down.

skairik · 02/27/2011, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geeray

the skimmer removes debris before it turns into nitrates.

Thanks for that!!

skairik · 02/27/2011, 01:05 AM

cassklar, are you skimming more on the dry or wet side?

02/25/2011, 09:52 PM	#1
cassklar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Vacaville CA Posts: 648	bad nitrate problem About a week and half to I purchased an already establish 72 gallon bow front it came with fish some zoasand gsp I set up and and put my rock and sand from my 37 gallon and now the issue I have is a nitrate that test out over 150 everything is open and so far doing fine how do I lower my nitrate I have done 2 water changes the past week at 25 gallons per change should I do another.huge one maybe 60% ofmy water just don't know what to do your help is appreciated

02/25/2011, 10:29 PM	#3
skairik Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Inland Empire Posts: 674	Don't get crazy with the water changes since nothing good happens fast in a reef tank. Continue with your water changes but take it down to like 10-15% per week. Secondly, your skimmer plays a role in NO3 reduction as well and it could be that it's just not up to the task. That said, what kind of skimmer is on your system? Thirdly, consider another NO3 reduction method, several of which are popularly successful, and then go from there. The method I chose for nutrient control (NO3/PO4) in my system was an aggressive skimmer (BK250) combined with a WM Zeovit reactor and MB7/carbon dosing. This method is considered ULNS (Ultra Low Nutrient System) and serves me well. I have 0 NO3/PO4 so it's hard to argue with this method. But as I've already stated there are other ways that work equally as well. Hopefully now that I've posted this other reefers will chime in on their methods of success. __________________ Beware the lollipop of mediocrity - one lick and you suck forever Free isn't good enough. Do you deliver? Last edited by skairik; 02/25/2011 at 10:36 PM.

02/26/2011, 12:18 AM	#5
skairik Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Inland Empire Posts: 674	Sounds as if you did experience a spike. Only way to know for sure is to keep monitoring your NO3. Definitely keep up with your water changes in the interim and if after X amount of weeks your NO3 is holding steady with no sign of declining then you should look into another method of nutrient control that you can incorporate into your existing method. __________________ Beware the lollipop of mediocrity - one lick and you suck forever Free isn't good enough. Do you deliver?

02/27/2011, 01:05 AM	#10
skairik Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Inland Empire Posts: 674	cassklar, are you skimming more on the dry or wet side? __________________ Beware the lollipop of mediocrity - one lick and you suck forever Free isn't good enough. Do you deliver?

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02/25/2011, 10:28 PM	#2
10point Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4	What type of filter system are you running on the new setup?

02/25/2011, 11:34 PM	#4
cassklar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Vacaville CA Posts: 648	I have a reef octopus rated for 125 gallons also have a phosban reactor with ecko bad pellets also a refugium with chaeto algae I don't know if I got a spike yesterday when I had to rearrange some of my live rock in my tank I am just hoping I could bring it down some it is at a high level

02/26/2011, 04:26 PM	#8
Thatnewguy Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Far Norcal Posts: 44	You might have started a mini cycle due to moving rocks and disturbing the sand bed. Was the sand new and cleaned? That being said, when i removed my sand bed (yes slowly over a course of 2 weeks) and put some new rocks in, i saw my nitrate spike just a little bit. I just changed my water 10% every 3-4 days with GFO and Carbon running and within a couple weeks your # should go down.