I just did a water test and.......

brwneyedangel82 · 08/21/2013, 12:45 AM

Everything looks good but my nitrates. Tanks been been running for about 4 almost 5 weeks. My Ph is between 8.0 to 8.2 My Amonia is 0 my Nitrite is 0 but my nitrate looks to be between 10 and 20

. What can I do to fix this or lower that. It should be lower right. My lfs said that the Amonia has to be at 0 to add fish. I was wondering since my Amonia is at 0 can I add a peppermint shrimp or 2 or should I wait for my Nitrates to get lower. Thanks in advance. Otherwise I'm happy with all the other test and my temp is at 80.

Sn8kbyt · 08/21/2013, 01:06 AM

Nitrates will only be lowered by an export means. Such as water changes, algae, organisms, Bacteria, ect.

In a new tank there will not be bacteria to do it or most likely algae or organisms so a water change is your only option.

brwneyedangel82 · 08/21/2013, 01:20 AM

Any reason why the nitrates would go up since there is nothing in there. 5 days ago I went to my lfs and they did a water test and said the nitrates was 5.0 ppm. Then I test it today and its at 10 ppm

Bpb · 08/21/2013, 01:45 AM

Could be a number of things. Could be more die off on your rock and sand, could be range of error in your test kit (5ppm error range for nitrate isn't unheard of I don't think). As of now since your tank is very very young, your best bet will be water changes, but even at that 5-10 ppm nitrate isn't an emergency. Your rocks biodiversity and equilibrium will facilitate denitrification as your tank matures. I didn't see my nitrates drop off the scale and algae all disappear until like the 15 month mark with regular smart maintenance

brwneyedangel82 · 08/21/2013, 02:08 AM

I will be retesting my nitrates again tomorrow to make sure I did it right. My husband was like are you sure you did it right. So I will retest and do a water change tomorrow as well. If everything pretty much stays the same and nitrates are at 5-10 ppm is it safe to add some peppermint shrimp to start off and then later in a few weeks add clownfish. I have some apstasia I believe in my tank. Thanks.

pjwperth · 08/21/2013, 02:33 AM

Hi brwneyedangel82

Have a look at the link im posting it explains how the nitrogen cycle works. There are two bacteria involved nitrosoma and nitrobacter bacteria. nitrosoma converts ammonia/ammonium into nitrite were nitrobacter feed on this and convert into nitrates.
In all my studies I have never heard of a bacteria that feeds on nitrates.

http://thefishvet.com.au/pdf/Ncycle_byRL.pdf

Bpb · 08/21/2013, 06:27 AM

Facultative bacteria deep in the rock pores and in the lower reaches of a sandbed will readily feed on nitrate. In anaerobic conditions they will take in the oxygen in nitrate and release nitrogen gas. I'm not an expert but this is pretty widely covered on this site and many others. Just google "denitrification reef" and there you go. Unless you're using a true deep sandbed it likely won't be enough to bring them down to undetectable levels, but it will help. The addition of macro algae and growth of micro algae can take care of the rest. The halimeda growing in my display tank is enough to keep nitrates below 1 ppm, with only 20% monthly water changes.

I think as long as you don't have any more risk of ammonia you can add the peppermint shrimp. Don't be sad if they don't work though, as they never ate aiptasia in my tank. I'd test the waters with the shrimp and if they survive, a clownfish should as well, as long as they're properly acclimated

Fish Biscuit · 08/21/2013, 02:50 PM

I think most times my nitrates are about 20. That is fine for fish & inverts. I would start with a small clean up crew & that will help the tank mature.

08/21/2013, 12:45 AM	#1
brwneyedangel82 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 48	I just did a water test and....... Everything looks good but my nitrates. Tanks been been running for about 4 almost 5 weeks. My Ph is between 8.0 to 8.2 My Amonia is 0 my Nitrite is 0 but my nitrate looks to be between 10 and 20 . What can I do to fix this or lower that. It should be lower right. My lfs said that the Amonia has to be at 0 to add fish. I was wondering since my Amonia is at 0 can I add a peppermint shrimp or 2 or should I wait for my Nitrates to get lower. Thanks in advance. Otherwise I'm happy with all the other test and my temp is at 80. __________________ salinity 1.024 temp 80 Current Tank Info: 40 gal breeder

08/21/2013, 01:06 AM	#2
Sn8kbyt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Manitowoc, WI Posts: 607	Nitrates will only be lowered by an export means. Such as water changes, algae, organisms, Bacteria, ect. In a new tank there will not be bacteria to do it or most likely algae or organisms so a water change is your only option. __________________ 220 gallon DT and 90 gallon sump, all DC powered, APEX gold with DOS, feeder, and a few extra modules, Avast Marine swabbie on Skimz Monster 258, 6 Rapid LED Onyx fixtures, BRS dosers, 4 Jaebo RW-15. Current Tank Info: 220 Gallon, 29 Gallon, 2-20L QT, and a 20 gallon tall octogon tank waiting to be setup for a seahorse tank.

08/21/2013, 01:20 AM	#3
brwneyedangel82 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 48	Any reason why the nitrates would go up since there is nothing in there. 5 days ago I went to my lfs and they did a water test and said the nitrates was 5.0 ppm. Then I test it today and its at 10 ppm __________________ salinity 1.024 temp 80 Current Tank Info: 40 gal breeder

08/21/2013, 02:08 AM	#5
brwneyedangel82 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 48	I will be retesting my nitrates again tomorrow to make sure I did it right. My husband was like are you sure you did it right. So I will retest and do a water change tomorrow as well. If everything pretty much stays the same and nitrates are at 5-10 ppm is it safe to add some peppermint shrimp to start off and then later in a few weeks add clownfish. I have some apstasia I believe in my tank. Thanks. __________________ salinity 1.024 temp 80 Current Tank Info: 40 gal breeder

08/21/2013, 02:33 AM	#6
pjwperth Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Perth W.A Posts: 276	Hi brwneyedangel82 Have a look at the link im posting it explains how the nitrogen cycle works. There are two bacteria involved nitrosoma and nitrobacter bacteria. nitrosoma converts ammonia/ammonium into nitrite were nitrobacter feed on this and convert into nitrates. In all my studies I have never heard of a bacteria that feeds on nitrates. http://thefishvet.com.au/pdf/Ncycle_byRL.pdf __________________ Don't ask if your not willing to hear the advice from others Current Tank Info: new tank about to set-up my largest so far 72x36x24 wife's idea go large or don't do it

08/21/2013, 01:45 AM	#4
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	Could be a number of things. Could be more die off on your rock and sand, could be range of error in your test kit (5ppm error range for nitrate isn't unheard of I don't think). As of now since your tank is very very young, your best bet will be water changes, but even at that 5-10 ppm nitrate isn't an emergency. Your rocks biodiversity and equilibrium will facilitate denitrification as your tank matures. I didn't see my nitrates drop off the scale and algae all disappear until like the 15 month mark with regular smart maintenance

08/21/2013, 06:27 AM	#7
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	Facultative bacteria deep in the rock pores and in the lower reaches of a sandbed will readily feed on nitrate. In anaerobic conditions they will take in the oxygen in nitrate and release nitrogen gas. I'm not an expert but this is pretty widely covered on this site and many others. Just google "denitrification reef" and there you go. Unless you're using a true deep sandbed it likely won't be enough to bring them down to undetectable levels, but it will help. The addition of macro algae and growth of micro algae can take care of the rest. The halimeda growing in my display tank is enough to keep nitrates below 1 ppm, with only 20% monthly water changes. I think as long as you don't have any more risk of ammonia you can add the peppermint shrimp. Don't be sad if they don't work though, as they never ate aiptasia in my tank. I'd test the waters with the shrimp and if they survive, a clownfish should as well, as long as they're properly acclimated

08/21/2013, 02:50 PM	#8
Fish Biscuit Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,164	I think most times my nitrates are about 20. That is fine for fish & inverts. I would start with a small clean up crew & that will help the tank mature. __________________ Michele I enjoy vodka entirely too much to share with the fish. Current Tank Info: 65 rimless with Eshopps R200 sump, current inhabitants randall goby, helfrichi, possum wrasse, barnacle blenny, mandarin, pistol, peppermint, & fire shrimp, snails, hermits, & LPS