Extreme nitrates

[nickp9054]

I have a fairly new 30 gallon nano set up. No corals yet, 1 Midas blenny and a pair of saddle back clowns. I feed 1/4 cube of frozen mysis every other day. And my nitrates are immeasurably high. 0 nitrites. 0 ammonia. Am I over feeding? Constant water changes barely seem to help. What should I do?

 

[dmy535]

Need more context. What’s “extremely high”? What test kit? How long has it been running? How long have you cycled tank? What type of filtration are you using?

 

[nickp9054]

Sorry, using Red Sea nitrate test kit, tanks been up about 4 months total including cycling. Using a cascade canister bc I don’t have room for a sump

 

[dmy535]

What’s the reading on nitrates?

 

[KrisReef]

Check your freshwater.
What kind of rock did you use for the set-up?

 

[dmy535]

Check your freshwater.
What kind of rock did you use for the set-up?

Yes, do you use RODI or tap? Or get your water from somewhere else? Still waiting on your “extreme number” though.

 

[nickp9054]

it’s reading 40 ppm, I’m using Marco reef saver rock, and yes I’m using RODI, I will test my RODI water

 

[nickp9054]

Just tested my RODI it’s nitrate free

 

[dmy535]

How often do you clean the canister and inside media? I’m assuming it has a foam filter inside? The bio balls (if inside) won’t need to be cleaned, but if it has foam inserts etc those do. Have you? If so, how often?

 

[nickp9054]

There is filter floss, carbon, a sponge, and bio balls. I clean sponge, and replace carbon and floss every 3 weeks. Maybe I should do it more often?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a fairly new 30 gallon nano set up. No corals yet, 1 Midas blenny and a pair of saddle back clowns. I feed 1/4 cube of frozen mysis every other day. And my nitrates are immeasurably high. 0 nitrites. 0 ammonia. Am I over feeding? Constant water changes barely seem to help. What should I do?

Every other day would not be overfeeding, in fact, in some respect underfeeding but sufficient for a new tank. I WOULDNT CLASSIFY 40PPM AS VERY HIGH BUT YOU DONT WANT IT HIGHER. In reef tanks, nitrates are necessary in small quantities to fuel the photosynthesis. This then gives our corals the sugars they need to grow and create skeletons. In large quantities however, nitrates can fuel massive growths of algae that can smother and compete with corals for real estate on the reef.
Before algae issues begin, I would suggest adding a pouch of chemipure elite which will polish your water and keep nitrates and phosphates in check. It will go up and down as your tank is maturing and soon level out.

 

[nickp9054]

Thanks, will do