High Nitrate

[Jayreef23]

Hi everyone my nitrates seem to be too high reading at 80(bright red). I’m using an API test kit. How should I go about lowering the nitrates and maintaining them low?

 

[Blumon18]

I was told tonclean my media weekly or every other week and maybe a fish or something died, could be over feeding I'm not really sure but that's what was told to me so just passing it forward. Mine was high as well but getting it back to normal slowly Goodluck have fun

 

[Idech]

I wouldn’t trust an APi test for nitrates. It’s only an approximation. Get yourself a Hanna high range nitrate checker.

To lower them, feed less and most of all, do more and bigger water changes. Test once a week an adjust accordingly.

 

[LeftyReefer]

using a skimmer?

tank size? and current filtration/export methods.

 

[Nanojoe]

Starting out, having a good water change schedule will do some good. You could get yourself some microbacter7 tot help eat up the nutrients.
ultimately you will want to solve why they are so high in the first place.
Overstocked? Heavy on the feedings? Poor quality water source?

 

[PeterEde]

Been fighting HR Nitrates too. Tired of trying to judge colours so bought a Hanna HR checker
Reduce feeding, Seachem Purigen.
Mine is now under 30ppm today I hope down from 40 to 37, 34 last test. Moving in the right direction.

May need to increase biomedia? Do you have enough?

 

[Spare time]

It is very difficult to answer this question without more details on your tank and filtration

 

[Jayreef23]

using a skimmer?

tank size? and current filtration/export methods.

Yea I got an icecap k1-130 protein skimmer,Nitrates and phosphate pad, refugium with chaetomorpha and filter sock

 

[vetteguy53081]

I believe you are getting false readings and I would suggest to take a water sample to a trusted LFS that does NOT use API test kits and see what readings they come up with and to compare with yours

 

[MaxTremors]

As others have said, API is unreliable. But to lower nitrates: water changes, refugium/algae scrubber, and/or carbon dosing. To reduce the production of nitrates: feed less, run a protein skimmer, and/or run something like purigen. Also, it is impossible for macroalgae and carbon dosing to work if you are phosphate limited. I was having very high nitrates in my current tank for months until I started dosing phosphates which had always been undetectable, since then my nitrates are in check (using a refugium and carbon dosing - also do weekly water changes), my nitrates are now 5-10ppm (and are going lower, so I will be lower the carbon dosing and running my refugium light for less hours).

 

[Sean Clark]

I would agree that a lot more info is needed here to provide assistance.

 

[Jayreef23]

I believe you are getting false readings and I would suggest to take a water sample to a trusted LFS that does NOT use API test kits and see what readings they come up with and to compare with yours

That’s what I’m gonna do take it to the LFS although I tested the nitrate test kit with clean saltwater I used to do a water change and it was yellow but with my tank water it turned bright red

 

[Spare time]

Yea I got an icecap k1-130 protein skimmer,Nitrates and phosphate pad, refugium with chaetomorpha and filter sock

What is the phosphate level? How long is the chaeto light on and what kind of light is it? How often do you change the socks?

 

[Jayreef23]

What is the phosphate level? How long is the chaeto light on and what kind of light is it? How often do you change the socks?

Don’t have a test kit for phosphate but my light is on 24/7 and the filter sock I change weekly

 

[damsels are not mean]

Hi everyone my nitrates seem to be too high reading at 80(bright red). I’m using an API test kit. How should I go about lowering the nitrates and maintaining them low?

How old is the tank? It could just be nitrite. That will cause a false high reading.

 

[Spare time]

Don’t have a test kit for phosphate but my light is on 24/7 and the filter sock I change weekly

Ah that is where I would start. I HIGHLY recommend a quality phosphate test.


I would also swap the socks at least 2x a week. Any crud, feces, or food collected in it will break down and rot overtime in the sock so the more you replace it, the less time that stuff sits in the tank decomposing.

 

[reefah]

Hi everyone my nitrates seem to be too high reading at 80(bright red). I’m using an API test kit. How should I go about lowering the nitrates and maintaining them low?

Less feeding, less dosing of AB+ if you use. Grab a bottle of no pox from Red Sea and dose based off of your tank size. Run GFO and that should do the trick

 

[Jayreef23]

I believe you are getting false readings and I would suggest to take a water sample to a trusted LFS that does NOT use API test kits and see what readings they come up with and to compare with yours

Took a water sample to the LFS it came back as 0 nitrate. I don’t understand. Is my test kit bad. Think I’m gonna invest in a Salifert

 

[vetteguy53081]

Took a water sample to the LFS it came back as 0 nitrate. I don’t understand. Is my test kit bad. Think I’m gonna invest in a Salifert

Kind of what I thought. Now you dont have to make any adjustments other than feed. No need to buy something and try to increase it which is a term chasing numbers. let them elevate naturally and reduce water change intervals

 

[reefah]

Took a water sample to the LFS it came back as 0 nitrate. I don’t understand. Is my test kit bad. Think I’m gonna invest in a Salifert

Hanna!