Cannot get nitrate down at all - please help

[Crustaceon]

I do have a protein skimmer yes, i also have a GFO reactor. Both are currently turned off. I currently have a tunze eco chic refugium light. So you think that it’s too powerful a light?

IMO, a 9w led isn't going to cut it and I think this is why Tunze designed the led to be placed pretty much right next to the chaeto...out of necessity. I tried leds in that range above water level and had similar results. The Cree I used is 16w and I strongly believe that makes a big difference here. I hung the cree a foot above the sump and it provided more than enough light. I doubling my amount of cheato weekly. I think any 5k led in the 14-20w range is where you want to be. Secondly, I would take the GFO reactor offline. Let either the Chaeto or nopox deal with that for now (the cloudiness is due to the nopox causing a bacterial bloom btw, it'll be fine but you might want to reduce your daily dose a bit). If you see this, it can still take a few weeks of consistent dosing before you start seeing a downward trend in nitrates.

 

[vetteguy53081]

What nitrate test kit do you recommend?

Hanna or Salifert

 

[MattyDoldilini]

IMO, a 9w led isn't going to cut it and I think this is why Tunze designed the led to be placed pretty much right next to the chaeto...out of necessity. I tried leds in that range above water level and had similar results. The Cree I used is 16w and I strongly believe that makes a big difference here. I hung the cree a foot above the sump and it provided more than enough light. I doubling my amount of cheato weekly. I think any 5k led in the 14-20w range is where you want to be. Secondly, I would take the GFO reactor offline. Let either the Chaeto or nopox deal with that for now (the cloudiness is due to the nopox causing a bacterial bloom btw, it'll be fine but you might want to reduce your daily dose a bit). If you see this, it can still take a few weeks of consistent dosing before you start seeing a downward trend in nitrates.

Okay so if I went with the new lighting such as yours, what kind of fixture did you use for the bulb? If possible can you link what you have or even just send a picture?

My water right now is definitely getting cloudier and cloudier so you recommend to just keep dosing nopox thru the bacterial bloom? I really appreciate all the help as well everything posted is very insightful

 

[JGT]

Do you think maybe just dosing nopox for nitrates and using a gfo reactor for phosphate will eliminate the need for chaeto?

It definitely would work without chaeto but your call.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Did you ever have an issue with cloudy water while dosing nopox? Every time I use it my water gets cloudy almost causing a bacterial bloom. I’m currently dosing 6ml daily and I’m already seeing cloudy water in a 85g system

Bacteria have to grow somewhere. Usually they are out of sigh, but sometimes not.

I might switch to a different carbon source (say, vinegar alone) and see if that works out better.

 

[Screwgunner]

This is the light I use. It grows algea like krazy

 

[Screwgunner]

You can order one on Amazon or look at menards that is where I got mine. White leds will not grow algea well.

 

[Clownreef]

Did you ever have an issue with cloudy water while dosing nopox? Every time I use it my water gets cloudy almost causing a bacterial bloom. I’m currently dosing 6ml daily and I’m already seeing cloudy water in a 85g system

Yep.. and it clears right away. Try dosing a couple of ml less.

 

[Spare time]

First thing I'd recommend is some new tests. API won't cut it for coral. Second is to throw away the ammonia and nitrite tests and don't replace them. One 50% water change will get you to 20 nitrate, from there your refugium should be able to regulate.

They shouldn't throw away the ammonia and nitrite. First off thats just wasteful, and secondly nitrite is a good indicator for if someone messed up their biofilter. It is also handy to have for any QT, new tank, etc. in the future. They obviously don't need to use them frequently, but its not like its useless.