Can't lower nitrates !

[Rjramos]

I've been a long time reefer and have had several tanks, but I can't get my wife's 29 Biocubes nitrates to lower?

Mixed reef.
Set up for 4 months.
Live black sand.
About 40lbs of dead rock.
Used Dr. Tim's One and Only plus his ammonia.
2 small clown fish.
2 small wrasses.
The new 9001 TUNZE skimmer
Very little use of activated carbon so far
Reef Crystals salt.
Kalkwasser.

Ammonia- 0
Nitrite-0
PH-7.8-8.0

But, the nitrates are over 40-50 ppm !
Two weeks ago, I did three consecutive days of 7 gallon water changes, but did little of lowering them.
Tested with a new test. Kit, same results..

This tank puzzle's me ?
I do not,.....over feed so that's not the issue.

Might try some GFO.

Hey Kev;

I happen to have a biocube 29 I started in July. I see you mention above adding the tunze 9001 skimmer. What else are you doing in the back? Chemi pure?, Purigen? Refugium? Hopefully, you have already replaced the factory installed bioball trickle filter, as this can lead to a nitrate problem. I am running a media basket with what I mentioned above and a refugium basket growing chaeto.

Rich.

 

[427HISS]

Nope, not using any bioball's as their a nitrate factory. I used BRS's activated carbon for 5 days, a month after we started the tank, other than that, nothing.
I'm going to pick out a rock and put it in a fresh batch of saltwater for 24 hrs, then test for nitrates. If there's none, I'll start pulling my hair out ! lol :frusty:

 

[Rjramos]

Nope, not using any bioball's as their a nitrate factory. I used BRS's activated carbon for 5 days, a month after we started the tank, other than that, nothing.
I'm going to pick out a rock and put it in a fresh batch of saltwater for 24 hrs, then test for nitrates. If there's none, I'll start pulling my hair out ! lol :frusty:

Mine cycled quick, but I used fresh cycled LR and live sand from the reef down here. Starting dry even with bacterial additives is a long process IMO. Especially pertaining to small COC(Copepods, amphipods, and very importantly worms!

 

[427HISS]

I haven't looked into what carbon dosing is, so please enlighten me, then I'll get to researching.

I'd like to find out the source first, so I know what has happened.

A friend recommended to take a fist sized rock from the display, place it in a bucket of freshly made batch of saltwater for 24 hrs, then test to see if the dead rock I'm using is leaching nitrate. he dead a lot of people are having issues with a lot of the company's that supply dead rock. But,....mine are from my reef tanks back in the 90's, with only a few of the new,....dead or dry,...rock.

Think it makes any difference ?

Don't you think that the fish & corals would be suffering with the high Nitrates ?
Most everything looks very well.

Here's some pics from start to recent. We changed the rock scaping a bit since the first pics and the lighting.

 

[ASAP-Aquarium]

I'd personally recommend either organic carbon dosing, or growing macroalgae. Both can do a good job on nutrients.

Agreed, this is your best long term & stable solution for controlling nitrates.

There are a number of products available that will get you quick results (nitrates at zero within about 2 weeks with daily dosing according to instructions).

There is a product that I do not sell called AZNO3 (Absolute Zero Nitrates), it works very well. You can get it at Marine Depot.

There is also a product from Red Sea called NO3O4-X, it reduces nitrates and phosphates.

I do sell the Red Sea product, however I recommend the AZNO3 for quick results.

Just expressing my personal opinion from experience, I'm not trying to sell you anything.

And once again for the record, I agree with Randy on the best long term solution.

 

[joejoe1055]

How old is the test kit?

 

[427HISS]

I bought a brand new kit to test against my original, but got the same results.

 

[joejoe1055]

Anyway to put one of your rocks into fresh rodi saltwater and test it a few days to see if its the rocks?

 

[427HISS]

Like I mentioned, I'll try to pick one, without tearing down a rock that's occupied by corals and test it.

 

[427HISS]

Ok, just had a thought. I have a Cockatoo bird and they are pretty dirty with white powder, that gets all over the house. I have her bird stand next to the tank and last night, we noticed some kind
of debris in the tank, sort of like detritus. Do you think it could be her powder that may comprise of nitrate or brake down to it ?

I'll put some clear plastic screening over the tank.

Kind of reaching here but,.......

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This is stuff you put on the bottom of the cage? Do you know the brand?

 

[427HISS]

What ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What brand is this white powder?

 

[427HISS]

Do you mean the white powder my Cockatoo has ?
If so, it's a natural powder their body releases to keep their body & feathers dry from moisture, similar us humans using antiperspirants.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree that if nutrients are low, one can get burnt tips if alkalinity is too high. I've never heard of it happening when alk is 7 dKH, and I don't believe it happens with any form of organic carbon dosing if the nutrients are not unusually low.

Just using pellets or vodka/vinegar/etc. doesn't mean nutrients are low.

 

[jjmccloud2011]

Just kidding about the GFO, as it seems that a lot of people think it's the answer for any problem. :squigglemouth:

Stop it