can't get my nitrates down

StangLvr78 · 01/03/2015, 02:53 PM

My nitrates are high 80ppm. I've done about 45% water change and its still the same. Everything else is okay. How do I get it to 0?

ReefKeep66 · 01/03/2015, 03:19 PM

Is this a newly cycled tank? Or at the end of the cycle? I series of water changes should lower them.

StangLvr78 · 01/03/2015, 03:36 PM

its a tank thats been up for about 11 months

AdamNC · 01/03/2015, 03:58 PM

Have you stirred up your sand bed any or have any of your fish died and you never took out the body?

hogfanreefer · 01/03/2015, 03:59 PM

Do you have a sump/skimmer, a refugium? Feeding schedule/stocking list/tank size?

If you have a good skimmer carbon dosing (vinegar) is what I would do. It worked great for me. I've reduced my nitrate from 25 to 0.5 in about 8 weeks. Be prepared to empty your skimmer cup more often.

dkeller_nc · 01/03/2015, 04:01 PM

First recognize that if you're using an API test for nitrates, it's notoriously inaccurate. That's particularly true if you're using tap water and Prime to make up your saltwater.

If that's not the case, you've probably recognized that water changes aren't an effective way to deal with nitrates in a reef tank. A much better way is carbon dosing - you can read about it here.

RocketEngineer · 01/03/2015, 05:20 PM

Another option is a Bucket DSB. A 5g bucket, pump, tubing/fittings, and 60#s of fine sand did wonders on my 125g setup. 40-60ppm Nitrates to unreadable in 3 months with no dosing/maintenance required.

Chocohunter · 01/03/2015, 06:58 PM

Another very handy thing could be seeing your system set up. With seeing that we can provide potential modifications that can help better filter your system.

kjboggs · 01/03/2015, 07:47 PM

I have a fairly deep sand bed and a low fish load and nitrates have been virtually undetectable in my tank. But there are days I hate my deep sugar fine sandbed.

RocketEngineer · 01/03/2015, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjboggs

I have a fairly deep sand bed and a low fish load and nitrates have been virtually undetectable in my tank. But there are days I hate my deep sugar fine sandbed.

Thats why I liked the Bucket DSB idea. Its not in the display to blow around and if it becomes problematic just turn off the pump and remove the bucket. A one purpose filter that is simple to set up, requires nothing to maintain, biology does all the work, and easy to remove. KISS.

Teenreefer15 · 01/03/2015, 09:10 PM

skimmer, bio pellet reactor, nitrate coil?

01/03/2015, 02:53 PM	#1
StangLvr78 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Ocala, Florida Posts: 73	can't get my nitrates down My nitrates are high 80ppm. I've done about 45% water change and its still the same. Everything else is okay. How do I get it to 0?

01/03/2015, 03:59 PM	#5
hogfanreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 2,117	Do you have a sump/skimmer, a refugium? Feeding schedule/stocking list/tank size? If you have a good skimmer carbon dosing (vinegar) is what I would do. It worked great for me. I've reduced my nitrate from 25 to 0.5 in about 8 weeks. Be prepared to empty your skimmer cup more often. __________________ DSA 155,Custom Trigger 42" sump/refugium, MP40 X2, MP 10 X 2, AI Hydra 52 X3, Apex controller, Tunze ATO Current Tank Info: DSA 155 gallon, mixed reef, SPS and wrasse dominant

01/03/2015, 05:20 PM	#7
RocketEngineer Space is big. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maryland Eastern Shore Posts: 3,226	Another option is a Bucket DSB. A 5g bucket, pump, tubing/fittings, and 60#s of fine sand did wonders on my 125g setup. 40-60ppm Nitrates to unreadable in 3 months with no dosing/maintenance required. __________________ -RocketEngineer "Knowledge is what you get when you read the directions, experience is what you get when you don't." - Unknown Current Tank Info: None Currently

01/03/2015, 03:19 PM	#2
ReefKeep66 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: The great state of Georgia Posts: 549	Is this a newly cycled tank? Or at the end of the cycle? I series of water changes should lower them.

01/03/2015, 03:36 PM	#3
StangLvr78 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Ocala, Florida Posts: 73	its a tank thats been up for about 11 months

01/03/2015, 03:58 PM	#4
AdamNC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Winston Salem, NC Posts: 849	Have you stirred up your sand bed any or have any of your fish died and you never took out the body?

01/03/2015, 04:01 PM	#6
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	First recognize that if you're using an API test for nitrates, it's notoriously inaccurate. That's particularly true if you're using tap water and Prime to make up your saltwater. If that's not the case, you've probably recognized that water changes aren't an effective way to deal with nitrates in a reef tank. A much better way is carbon dosing - you can read about it here.

01/03/2015, 06:58 PM	#8
Chocohunter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: NC Coast Posts: 12	Another very handy thing could be seeing your system set up. With seeing that we can provide potential modifications that can help better filter your system.

01/03/2015, 07:47 PM	#9
kjboggs Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 148	I have a fairly deep sand bed and a low fish load and nitrates have been virtually undetectable in my tank. But there are days I hate my deep sugar fine sandbed.

01/03/2015, 09:10 PM	#11
Teenreefer15 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: New Jersey Posts: 479	skimmer, bio pellet reactor, nitrate coil?