got hit with a nitrate nuke

[Coral Storm]

just recently i got a nitrate boom... readings of well over 160 ppm. i did a 30 percent water change but i dont think it will change it enough i found out my uv filter used to kill off a previous ich problem has been left on for a while taking out most of the important nitrifying bacteria out... do you think what i am doing is goof right now?

 

[jsvand5]

A UV filter isn’t going to take out your nitrifying bacteria. Must be something else going on.

 

[Biocube32]

UV filter did not do this. Would need more info to determine what did. Something die? Recently disturbed thick sandbed, dead spots in sump or display? Dying macroalgae?

 

[WVNed]

Mine hit 160 last year in a short period of time. I changed the water right down to the sand. I ended up using nopox which held it at 20.

How much sand do you have in your tank. It was what was causing my problem. When I moved my tank to the new house I only put back about 1/4th as much and my nitrates have stayed ok.

 

[Coral Storm]

UV filter did not do this. Would need more info to determine what did. Something die? Recently disturbed thick sandbed, dead spots in sump or display? Dying macroalgae?

yes i think so

 

[Coral Storm]

yes i think so

no sand in the begginning i used crushed coral... i did not like it in the long run and thats why now i have been using sand in a new 18 gallon nano

 

[SPR1968]

Hi

As already said the UV steriliser isn’t likely to kill of your bacteria as most of it will be tied up in the rockwork etc. I run UV(C) 24/7.

Firstly you need to make sure your doing water changes with 0 TDS RODI water as if your not you could be introducing more nutrients to your tank. If you do this, a 20% water change will reduce nitrate by 20% or thereabouts. Don’t necessarily trust what a LFS sells if you don’t make it yourself, test it

So if it were me I would carry out a serious of 20% water changes (so it doesn’t upset the water chemistry to much) over a few weeks and this is the simplest method of bringing the levels down.

Once down you need keep them under control with whatever method you choose. Simple water changes, Carbon dosing, refugium etc....

If the tank is the nano you mention, then I would keep it simple with water changes, but you must use good quality new saltwater

 

[WVNed]

With water changes the change in nitrates follows the percentage you change.
at 160 you change 50% to get to 80. Change 50% again the next day and get to 40. and so on.

 

[Coral Storm]

Hi

As already said the UV steriliser isn’t likely to kill of your bacteria as most of it will be tied up in the rockwork etc. I run UV(C) 24/7.

Firstly you need to make sure your doing water changes with 0 TDS RODI water as if your not you could be introducing more nutrients to your tank. If you do this, a 20% water change will reduce nitrate by 20% or thereabouts. Don’t necessarily trust what a LFS sells if you don’t make it yourself, test it

So if it were me I would carry out a serious of 20% water changes (so it doesn’t upset the water chemistry to much) over a few weeks and this is the simplest method of bringing the levels down.

Once down you need keep them under control with whatever method you choose. Simple water changes, Carbon dosing, refugium etc....

If the tank is the nano you mention, then I would keep it simple with water changes, but you must use good quality new saltwater

i use distilled water its the best i can get until i get an rodi unit

 

[cracker]

Please consider no more live stock until You get that water filter. Save the money on any fish or coral towards it. It' really that important.