High Nitrates - Advice?

[Ivan Moreno]

Hello all - I'd like to get some advice on getting the nitrates in my 75 gallon fish tank down and keeping them down. For the past month I've had my nitrates at 180 ppm + and have been able to successfully get them down a bit but only for them to go back up.

After tons of reading I'm starting to think this all happened due to trying to be proactive and I moved all my 1.5 + year old substrate all at once. I've been trying doing large water changes once a week, using prime, Dr. Tims bacteria, and have had no success in keeping the nitrate down.

Any advice? I'm thinking of possibly wiping my sump clean to see if that could also be a nitrate factory, however I'm not sure if this could possibly make the problem worse or not?

 

[Pete polyp]

If you have a skimmer you could always start dosing vinegar or vodka.

 

[Ivan Moreno]

If you have a skimmer you could always start dosing vinegar or vodka.

Unfortunately I do not have a skimmer. After having purchased all this other stuff I could have already bought one, but I've honestly spent $200.00 in the last month on other products.. Would you perhaps have any other suggestions?

 

[Pete polyp]

How much rock do you have in it?

 

[Pete polyp]

You may have killed the sandbed. You could siphon out the sand while doing a 50% water change.

 

[Ivan Moreno]

Pictures

 

[Ivan Moreno]

How much rock do you have in it?

I would say I have at least 30 - 40 pounds of live rock. I honestly was doing all this in perpetration for adding about 50 pounds more of LR which were going to be put in the form of a wall... That is a side project for now, that's all in a trash bin with running water ..

 

[bevo5]

Imo the products that claim to lower nitrates hardly ever work.

But anyway. Think about it like this. Nitrates are the end of the nitrogen cycle. So you don't need dr tims or anything like that. You are cycling ammonia and nitrite just fine. That's why you have the nitrates.

So two things lower nitrates. Less nutrients and more water change. I'd start by feeding less. Much less over the course of a week or two. See where that gets you. Also check for any debris soaked sponges or things that are holding onto fish waste

Then keep up those water changes. Have you checked your rodi water?? Everything is clean there? Try a new test kit? 180ppm is really high.

Do you have too many fish? All these are causes for high nitrate. Lower the nutrients going in with fewer feedings and do more water changes with pure rodi. It'll work.

 

[Ivan Moreno]

Imo the products that claim to lower nitrates hardly ever work.

But anyway. Think about it like this. Nitrates are the end of the nitrogen cycle. So you don't need dr tims or anything like that. You are cycling ammonia and nitrite just fine. That's why you have the nitrates.

So two things lower nitrates. Less nutrients and more water change. I'd start by feeding less. Much less over the course of a week or two. See where that gets you. Also check for any debris soaked sponges or things that are holding onto fish waste

Then keep up those water changes. Have you checked your rodi water?? Everything is clean there? Try a new test kit? 180ppm is really high.

Do you have too many fish? All these are causes for high nitrate. Lower the nutrients going in with fewer feedings and do more water changes with pure rodi. It'll work.

I've started feeding the fish once a day as opposed to twice a day. Also a lot less food then before. In regards to the water I'm using, its a Glacier machine at a local food store, its apparently RO water.

Currently what I have in my tank is: Salfin, clownfish, benny, 2x damsel, & coral beauty.. I would think my 75 is more than enough for this?

 

[bevo5]

I have no experience with the grocery store water but is there a lfs nearby you could get water from? Id test the store water anyway just to see.

In the long run though you will save a bunch of money if you buy an rodi. With the sales going on right now you can probably get one pretty cheap. And then no more buying your water. And no more not knowing what's going into the tank. I didn't want to drop the cash and do all dos about a year ago. It's one of the better reef purchase I've made and probably the only one that pays for itself.

 

[malira]

Has anything changed with the new water going into your tank? Do you make your own water? RODI filter?

 

[Ivan Moreno]

I have no experience with the grocery store water but is there a lfs nearby you could get water from? Id test the store water anyway just to see.

In the long run though you will save a bunch of money if you buy an rodi. With the sales going on right now you can probably get one pretty cheap. And then no more buying your water. And no more not knowing what's going into the tank. I didn't want to drop the cash and do all dos about a year ago. It's one of the better reef purchase I've made and probably the only one that pays for itself.

The nearest lfs is PETCO, so the water is packaged and kind of expensive..but might end up trying that out or traveling to the bigger lfs in houston. Do you have any suggestions on a rodi system?

 

[Ivan Moreno]

Has anything changed with the new water going into your tank? Do you make your own water? RODI filter?

Other than using the store bought water vs. the tap water (have access to city tap water or well water), not really.. I stopped using the well water because of reading about there being too many possible unknowns in either or..

 

[malira]

I'd bet money your problem is the water going into your tank.
I ordered my RODI from buckeye hydro. Not the cheapest but you can't beat the quality.
Your best bet is a RODI system.
In houston you can get water from FJW or Oceanlife. Great stores with quality water.

If your in houston get on MARSH also the local reefing site. You can put out feelers for a RODI system. People are selling them all the time.

I live in Houston.

 

[Ivan Moreno]

I'd bet money your problem is the water going into your tank.
I ordered my RODI from buckeye hydro. Not the cheapest but you can't beat the quality.
Your best bet is a RODI system.
In houston you can get water from FJW or Oceanlife. Great stores with quality water.

If your in houston get on MARSH also the local reefing site. You can put out feelers for a RODI system. People are selling them all the time.

I live in Houston.

I've taken those two places down. FJW is a bit closer so I'll try them out probably tomorrow. I appreciate your help!

 

[Anirban]

May be you can get cheap one like this RO/DI unit from BRS
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-4-stage-value-ro-di-system-75gpd-2.html

Please don't wash your rocks under tap water if you do then you are just adding more phosphate or nitrate to your rocks through absorption.

Get some RO/DI water and start doing large water changes. You will be out of your issue soon.

 

[Ivan Moreno]

May be you can get cheap one like this RO/DI unit from BRS
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-4-stage-value-ro-di-system-75gpd-2.html

Please don't wash your rocks under tap water if you do then you are just adding more phosphate or nitrate to your rocks through absorption.

Get some RO/DI water and start doing large water changes. You will be out of your issue soon.

Looking into these systems.. Trust me, one thing I found out real quick through reading tons of forums is not to wash my rocks under anything but newly prepared salter water. I'm getting to the end of my patience and I was going to do an 80% water change tomorrow along with putting my live rock in clean salt water to remove any debris (etc) and then putting them back in the tank..Appreciate it!

 

[malira]

I've taken those two places down. FJW is a bit closer so I'll try them out probably tomorrow. I appreciate your help!

FJW may even have a used RODI system. Dennis keeps a lot of used products at the store. When you drive in don't judge the place by the neighborhood and it's outside appearance. The inside is phenomenal.
You will want to go back. Also ask him questions he is always willing to help.
Where are coming from?

 

[Ivan Moreno]

FJW may even have a used RODI system. Dennis keeps a lot of used products at the store. When you drive in don't judge the place by the neighborhood and it's outside appearance. The inside is phenomenal.
You will want to go back. Also ask him questions he is always willing to help.
Where are coming from?

I use to work around there so pretty familiar with the area.. No surprises here. I'm going up from the Bush Airport area, Atascocita, tx...

 

[malira]

I use to work around there so pretty familiar with the area.. No surprises here. I'm going up from the Bush Airport area, Atascocita, tx...

There is also That Aquarium Place. I'm not that familiar with it but he's pretty popular on MARSH.

There is a guy on MARSH who was selling a 5 stage BRS RODI system with new filters for $100. He may still have it. You can text him 832 270 42 four one.