High Nitrates above 80 need a little help!

Joezreef · Dec 9, 2009

I had mentioned in a previous post that my Nitrates were high...I now confirmed they are 80+ I used Salifert and API Test kits....I have been dosing MB7 & Now VODKA for a few weeks.....
My question is what can lower them the best...Im doing a few 80 gallon water changes this week(300 gallon system) or would it be better to do a bigger one? I also use Purigan!

coralfarm123 · Dec 9, 2009

One bigger water change will reduce your nitrates faster than two smaller ones even if they total the same amount of water. You can do a series of large water changes and that will bring them down the fastest.

Joezreef · Dec 9, 2009

Ok good...The funny thing is my corals are still growing and have some good color....a few of my millis are browning but still growing!

Jcr's Reef · Dec 9, 2009

+1 on big water change. I would also try to find out whats causing it. Before your water change take a powerhead and go through all of your liverock to kick up as much detritus as possible. I would also clean/change all filters,pumps, etc.. then perform the water change all in the same day.

Joezreef · Dec 9, 2009

I did all that last night blew all rocks & 40 gallon water change...I will do one big one later tonight around 100 gallons..changed all my media cleaned out all reactor lines and extra cleaned my sump...The api test kit was still blood red this morning

benny z · Dec 9, 2009

if you do the 100g water change, it should cut your nitrates to ~30ppm. then another 100g water change in 2 days should net you ~20ppm.

did you get the liverock out of the bioballs tray? vaccuum all detritis out of the sump? rig up a way to use filter socks?

Joezreef · Dec 9, 2009

I took all the rock out of my sump and cleeaned my sump last night it was so dirty that you couldnt see through the water...I took a washrag and scrubbed the sides....I got in my filter bags but could only use one on my return line from my refugium(75 gallon tank)...I will run by lowes today and get the stuff to re-route the main tank lines(will this make a big difference instead of my filter pad?) I noticed with 100 micron bag that in 1 day the whole bottom of the bag was brown/green! If I re-route the lines(main tank) I can have both lines going into one bag and my return refugium line going into another filter bag!

benny z · Dec 9, 2009

i would try to route them all to the one bag, if possible. i have my system set up so that all drains lead to a common filter sock, which i change at least once daily.

Joezreef · Dec 9, 2009

do you wetskim? I have done it in the past with issues? will it help to reduce nitrates?

benny z · Dec 9, 2009

i do skim pretty wet. filter sock + skimming on the wet side + gfo + carbon + dsb = 0 nutrient issues.

Joezreef · Dec 9, 2009

Ok I will try to skim wet just turn the skimmer all the way to the bubbles pop at the top of the collection cup right? I use to run gfo but stopped when I started dosing vodka & mb7!

litenyaup · Dec 9, 2009

water change, water change, water change!!! ever 3 or 4 days do one. i had the problem and the only way to get them down was to get them out. after they get down you can take the proper precautions to keep them down.

Braves Fan · Dec 9, 2009

Had the same problem 3 months ago, big water changes did the trick. As Coralfarm 123 said, do big water changes, not two small ones. I started using filter socks and change them out everyday, if you have someone at home during the day try changing twice in a 24 hour period. Also found out my skimmer isn't the best, so I am hoping that an upgrade in that department will also help. I found out I was feeding my fish 5 days of food in one day and that I was feeding about a weeks worth of Nori sheets in one day ( my fish were FAT and looking godd lol) anyway my nitrates are better but still not at zero, don't no if I will ever hit that number.

nater · Dec 9, 2009

just throwing this out there, sorry sort of off topic , but how do you guys clean your filter socks?

benny z · Dec 9, 2009

i have a big dog bathing sink in my fish room that has a hose with a spray nozzle attached, so for me it is really easy. i flip them inside out, spray them off with the pressure hose really well, and hang them in the sink to drip dry. once mostly dry i put them in a salt bucket to collect until i've run out, then i wash them all in the washer with about a 1/2 cup of bleach and run an extra rinse cycle. from there they go to a dryer rack until i need them. sometimes i change them every 12 hours (lunch and before bed). but usually just before bed lately.

DaveA · Dec 9, 2009

For long term nitrate control, I would set up a REMOTE deep sand bed (RDSB). This will lower your nitrates within two weeks. Make it remote so that you can disconnect if you need to.

Joezreef · Dec 10, 2009

benny z said:
i have a big dog bathing sink in my fish room that has a hose with a spray nozzle attached, so for me it is really easy. i flip them inside out, spray them off with the pressure hose really well, and hang them in the sink to drip dry. once mostly dry i put them in a salt bucket to collect until i've run out, then i wash them all in the washer with about a 1/2 cup of bleach and run an extra rinse cycle. from there they go to a dryer rack until i need them. sometimes i change them every 12 hours (lunch and before bed). but usually just before bed lately.