High Nitrates going nuts

[mrcoffee2]

Hey Guys,

I need some help figuring out my nitrate problem. The answer has to be right in front of me...

I have a 8G IM cube. 3 months into cycle. All of my levels are good except for... NITRATES! I am new to this hobby but I am doing everything right as far as I can tell...

Sal - 1.025
RODI water 000PPM <--- Tested and also has 0 nitrates.
10-20% water changes 2X a week
temp 78-80 degrees
lights are stock IM LED lights. Blues on 10hrs whites on 8hrs.

Inhabitants:
4 hermits
1 YWG
1 tiger pistol
1 peppermint
2 nass
1 stom
2 regular snails?
1 pom pom crab

corals:
1 torch
2 zoas
1 favia
1 frogspawn

The tank looks beautiful. Crystal clear! Everything seems to be happy - Nothing has died, I do a check list of everything on a daily basis.

I will admit I used to over feed. 3 weeks ago I stopped overfeeing and numbers seemed to stay about the same. Maybe have changed a little for the worse... I feed a tiny sliver (about as big as a tooth pick tip) once a day.

I thought it was my filter so last night I did a 20% water change and swapped out my 2 sponges with chemipure elite, and filter floss. This morning here is my levels. (Pic below) Look at those Nitrates! Are you kidding me! I understand that my water can be a little dirty, but thats getting really high. It looks like 80!

I have two different API master kits, Reef and Saltwater first. Both kits show the same nitrate levels.

I am thinking about it while I am writing this. Could it be something built up on the back of the tank from over feeding in the past? I havent cleaned out the 3 columns where the filter, heater, and pump sit.

People mention vodka dosing... Should I consider this?

Please help me get this figured out before death starts in my tank.

Best,

John

 

[Gauge]

Try doing large water changes to get them down, like 50% each. Look at it this way. If your nitrates are 100 and you do a 20% water change then they are 80. Another water change and they are 64 and another water change and they are 50. So you did 3 water changes but the color on your API kit isn't going to change much if any. Now if you do 50% water changes it will go from 100 to 50 and then to 25 and then to 12.5 nitrates.

 

[mrcoffee2]

Try doing large water changes to get them down, like 50% each. Look at it this way. If your nitrates are 100 and you do a 20% water change then they are 80. Another water change and they are 64 and another water change and they are 50. So you did 3 water changes but the color on your API kit isn't going to change much if any. Now if you do 50% water changes it will go from 100 to 50 and then to 25 and then to 12.5 nitrates.

I see what you are sayng here. Let me add by saying that in the past 3 weeks 2 of the 6 water changes have been atleast 40%

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Moved to current forum: Reef Discussion.

I would also try to verify the number with a different brand of test kit. I have found the nitrate test for API to test on the high side.

 

[mrcoffee2]

Thanks Krista,

Do you have a suggestion for a solid kit to use?

 

[mrcoffee2]

Alright! It looks like I may have finally found the problem. I pulled my pump out and found brown nasty algae caked to the entire thing. I did a 10% water change and levels have already seemed to reduced! Additionally I have more flow haha

Goes to show, when you have a problem typing it out and thinking about it can really be beneficial.

Thanks guys

 

[Gauge]

Looks to be 20-40 so not bad at all.

 

[JMSKI333]

Moved to current forum: Reef Discussion.

I would also try to verify the number with a different brand of test kit. I have found the nitrate test for API to test on the high side.

+1 on this. I was going to say the same thing.

Besides the test kit saying you have high nitrates, is there anything else in your tank that would make you think your nitrates are high? I.E. Poylp Extension, Algea etc.

 

[mrcoffee2]

+1 on this. I was going to say the same thing.

Besides the test kit saying you have high nitrates, is there anything else in your tank that would make you think your nitrates are high? I.E. Poylp Extension, Algea etc.

JMS, look at my post above. I think I may have found my culprit.

 

[mike007]

Nitrates are caused by excess nutrients. With a tank that size it will not take much to drive them up. Do you run a skimmer? I would get rid of any type sponge filters ,floss or any thing else that might trap and hold waste. Good circulation,skimming and some live rock is all you really need. With that small of water volumn you will really have to stay on top of it. If all else fails you may want to try carbon dosing. There are many options when it comes to dosing and you can find lots of post here to learn how and when to dose.