Dealing With High Nitrates

[katonge]

High Nitrates


2 tanks - 1 WB 220 & 1 C-Vue 40

220 has protein skimmer - 40 does not

Stocking list for the 40 - 1 neon dottyback & 2 clowns + 2 conch

Stocking list for the 220 is attached

Problem - very high nitrates. Tested at home & both tested at 80+ so I thought maybe my testing kit was off. Took water sample to lfs & 80+ was confirmed. They suggested maybe the RO water used to make saltwater was off, somehow. RO & saltwater cat tested 0 for nitrates.

220 is fed heavy - 40 is not.

Any ideas what is going on?

 

[IsaacHunt]

What test kit are you using

how often are you doing water changes

have you tried NoPox or any other means of nitrate reduction

 

[Duffer]

Me personally about 6 months ago I had high nitrates around the same as yours and phosphates were inline…I carbon dosed via vodka and weekly water changes…it took some time but are now at 7

 

[Spare time]

Have you checked nitrite ?

 

[Ben.QLD2]

High nitrates is simply excess nutrients not being exported from the tank.

Increase water changes and maybe look at carbon dosing or some resin in a reactor.

How are the urchins and seastars going with the high level?

 

[katonge]

What test kit are you using

how often are you doing water changes

have you tried NoPox or any other means of nitrate reduction

API, salifert & lfs
Water changes are automatic in the 220 & every couple of weeks or more in the 40.
have not tried any reduction chemicals yet

 

[katonge]

Have you checked nitrite ?

No. Never thought of that.

 

[katonge]

High nitrates is simply excess nutrients not being exported from the tank.

Increase water changes and maybe look at carbon dosing or some resin in a reactor.

How are the urchins and seastars going with the high level?

Seastars & urchin seem to be fine as are the leathers. Zoas not so good & mushrooms some are better than others.

 

[kdtorgy]

I had high nitrates for a long time. Started dosing nopox and after about 6 weeks of daily dosing they are stable between 10 - 15 ppm.

 

[katonge]

I Guess it’s a 2 part question
1. How to deal with it
2. And more puzzling- why are both tanks showing same levels when they are totally separate systems

 

[dwest]

I think it might’ve been easy to see the “same” level due to the resolution of the test kits. I had “about 50“ ppm nitrates using my salifert kit. But when I started carbon dosing with vinegar I bought a Hanna HR nitrate kit for better precision.

To deal with high nitrates I would first know phosphate levels. Based on phosphate levels I might try larger WC or C dosing. Do you know phosphate levels?

 

[Spare time]

No. Never thought of that.

Might be a good idea. Sometimes it can cause nitrate to appear high.

 

[Spare time]

High nitrates is simply excess nutrients not being exported from the tank.

Increase water changes and maybe look at carbon dosing or some resin in a reactor.

How are the urchins and seastars going with the high level?

Eh things can tolerate nitrate far greater than one might expect. Nitrate is surprisingly still a relative mystery in this hobby as to what values actually cause an issue

 

[katonge]

I think it might’ve been easy to see the “same” level due to the resolution of the test kits. I had “about 50“ ppm nitrates using my salifert kit. But when I started carbon dosing with vinegar I bought a Hanna HR nitrate kit for better precision.

To deal with high nitrates I would first know phosphate levels. Based on phosphate levels I might try larger WC or C dosing. Do you know phosphate levels?

Phosphates are high in both tanks - showing 0.90

 

[katonge]

No. Never thought of that.

Nitrites are 0

 

[Pistondog]

Start carbon dosing

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I discuss many ways of reducing nitrate here:

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION

Nitrate is an ion that has long dogged aquarists. It is typically formed in aquaria through the digestion of foods, and in many aquaria it builds up and can be difficult to keep at natural levels. In the past, many aquarists performed water changes with nitrate reduction as one of the primary...

www.reefedition.com

 

[katonge]

I discuss many ways of reducing nitrate here:

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION

Nitrate is an ion that has long dogged aquarists. It is typically formed in aquaria through the digestion of foods, and in many aquaria it builds up and can be difficult to keep at natural levels. In the past, many aquarists performed water changes with nitrate reduction as one of the primary...

www.reefedition.com

Thank you.

 

[IsaacHunt]

API, salifert & lfs
Water changes are automatic in the 220 & every couple of weeks or more in the 40.
have not tried any reduction chemicals yet

Find your nearest trash can and Ditch the
API test kit as they are about as much use as a Hedgehog in a Condom Factory

try weekly water changes

get NoPox READ the instructions and start using it. Not an instant magical potion but will set you on the path to maintaining stable parameters.

NoPox requires a decent skimmer

 

[katonge]

Find your nearest trash can and Ditch the
API test kit as they are about as much use as a Hedgehog in a Condom Factory

try weekly water changes

get NoPox READ the instructions and start using it. Not an instant magical potion but will set you on the path to maintaining stable parameters.

NoPox requires a decent skimmer

Why NoPox instead of vinegar or vodka?