Hi guys. I have a little bit of a nitrate problem in my 10 gallon nano reef. They are running 20. I have clownfish and a rock with zoanthids and mushrooms on it. I'm very good about not overfeeding. For filtration I have carbon, a good protein skimmer, chemi-pure blue, and some chaetophilia. Last week I did 50 percent water changes every other day. That didn't work. I'm also getting a bit of diatoms which are now spreading on my zoanthids. I'm thinking about buying a bio-pellet reactor to see if that will work. Is this a good idea? Any other suggestions? Thanks for your time and I hope someone can help.
Help!!!
- Thread starter Dylan O' Connor
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Crabs McJones
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Welcome to R2R Dylan! Couple questions for you. Can you post all your parameters? Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, phosphate ect...and are you using rodi water or tap water? What test kit are you using? Dont change out to much water at a time, it could cause more issues than it solves. If you're doing 50% water changes every other day there has to be something else going on. How much and how often are you feeding?
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What test are you using? And how long has the tank been up?
Are you using rodi? Usually diatoms are self limited if you are not adding additional silicates.
Also diatoms are a good snack for some clean up crew members. Pods would be my first addition followed by detritus and algae feeding snails. Ceriths and trochus are my go toos. Maybe 5 of each for a 10 gallon.
Are you using rodi? Usually diatoms are self limited if you are not adding additional silicates.
Also diatoms are a good snack for some clean up crew members. Pods would be my first addition followed by detritus and algae feeding snails. Ceriths and trochus are my go toos. Maybe 5 of each for a 10 gallon.
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There is such a thing as water being too clean. 10% 2x a week is adequate. In addition to your test kit, i would take a sample to your LFS and see what readings they come up with and do a comparison.
40B Knasty
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There is a lot things that need to be answered before putting our green thumbs on how to get your tank back to a good stable tank.
You have a protein skimmer, great that will help.
You didn't mention what kind of biological media you have for filtration. That is your key to breaking down ammonia and nitrites to nitrates. Microsomona breaks down your ammonia to nitrites. Microspira and Microbacter break down nitrites to nitrates. This is your beneficial bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria is what breaks down nitrates to the gas form and bubble it up and out of your tank. This bacteria takes time to achieve. Also you may never achieve it with in your rock work or biological filtration. Your rock needs some deep porosity for this bacteria.
If you are using an API Nitrate test kit. Listen up to this. The laser etched line for 5ml maybe off. You could be putting in only 4ml of water. Thinking it is 5ml cause you filled it up to the line. So your test result will be off. Also if you do not shake that #2 bottle perfectly from day one like it is your job. The powder on the inside will stick to the wall and EVERY test result will be off after that. I had this happen before. Reading 80ppm when it was 2ppm. Which is ridiculously unacceptable. This may be your reason for reading 50ppm.
As for the biopellet reactor. Don't bother. They are hard to control for what you want to achieve. Plus if you were going to go as far getting all this. You are better off buying a bigger tank, a plate of Marine Pure to hold a ton more beneficial bacteria, and add more & better live rock to hold more beneficial bacteria to break down all the bioload.
Also make sure your chaeto is being lit all around. Also the middle. If the middle is not being lit up to get photosynthesis. The inner part could be dying causing a nutrients factor.
Plus I have no clue what chaetophilia is. Sounds like a phobia of chaeto morpha haha
You have a protein skimmer, great that will help.
You didn't mention what kind of biological media you have for filtration. That is your key to breaking down ammonia and nitrites to nitrates. Microsomona breaks down your ammonia to nitrites. Microspira and Microbacter break down nitrites to nitrates. This is your beneficial bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria is what breaks down nitrates to the gas form and bubble it up and out of your tank. This bacteria takes time to achieve. Also you may never achieve it with in your rock work or biological filtration. Your rock needs some deep porosity for this bacteria.
If you are using an API Nitrate test kit. Listen up to this. The laser etched line for 5ml maybe off. You could be putting in only 4ml of water. Thinking it is 5ml cause you filled it up to the line. So your test result will be off. Also if you do not shake that #2 bottle perfectly from day one like it is your job. The powder on the inside will stick to the wall and EVERY test result will be off after that. I had this happen before. Reading 80ppm when it was 2ppm. Which is ridiculously unacceptable. This may be your reason for reading 50ppm.
As for the biopellet reactor. Don't bother. They are hard to control for what you want to achieve. Plus if you were going to go as far getting all this. You are better off buying a bigger tank, a plate of Marine Pure to hold a ton more beneficial bacteria, and add more & better live rock to hold more beneficial bacteria to break down all the bioload.
Also make sure your chaeto is being lit all around. Also the middle. If the middle is not being lit up to get photosynthesis. The inner part could be dying causing a nutrients factor.
Plus I have no clue what chaetophilia is. Sounds like a phobia of chaeto morpha haha
Last edited:
40B Knasty
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Nitrosomona* not microsomona
Dylan O' Connor
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Thank you guys for your replys. I'm using RODI water. My amonoia is 0, my nitrites are 0, PH is 8, salinity is 0.024. I feed once a day only a couple tiny pinches. My clownfish eats out of my fingers so I can really monitor howuch extra food is in the tank. I will let you guys know my phosphate today when I get a chance to check it. I am using Salifert Test kits.
40B Knasty
Valuable Member
I hope you meant salinity 1.024 
Good to hear everything else has been present. Seems like your test kit is off some how and I would get a second reading from another source like an LFS. If it is high still. Then ya need to figure out how to get those nitrates out of the tank.
Good to hear everything else has been present. Seems like your test kit is off some how and I would get a second reading from another source like an LFS. If it is high still. Then ya need to figure out how to get those nitrates out of the tank.
BedrockIOMC
Never to salty, Just don't go over 35.
I hope you mean that your salinity is 1.024 and not 0.024.
MnFish1
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You didn't mention what kind of biological media you have for filtration. That is your key to breaking down ammonia and nitrites to nitrates. Microsomona breaks down your ammonia to nitrites. Microspira and Microbacter break down nitrites to nitrates. This is your beneficial bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria is what breaks down nitrates to the gas form and
Nitrosomonas, Nitrospira and Nitrobacter.
Dylan O' Connor
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Thank you guys so much for the info. I ordered a bio-pellet reactor as a place for bacteria to build up, and some straight anaerobic bacteria to break down the nitrates. Once I get it, how long should I give the bacteria to start working?
40B Knasty
Valuable Member
Yes nitro nitro nitro. Thanks for the same response on another thread as this one. ;Spam
MnFish1
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Actually - you didn't misquote the other genii on the other post - only here. Thats why I corrected you. Take it for what you will. Lots of people look at this - If you say Microspora and its Nitrospora - its a difference. No offense intended..
MnFish1
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FWIW - Microbacteria and Microspora exist. So its not just a trivial spelling thing. Microspora is a green algae and Microbacteria are a non-nitrifying bacteria a gram positive rod.
CindyKz
Valuable Member
Unless you are planning to put SPS in the tank, nitrates 20 aren't a big problem. If your tank is young I would wait it out and just focus on keeping things stable. How long has the cheato been there?
