High nitrates

[slipknotgrrl83]

Ok long story short, my test kit was expired, I didn't know it. Just tested with new one, everything is OK except nitrates are 60. Other test kit they were none existent. I'm freaking out, will my corals be ok?? How can I lower it. I have a 29 gallon with 10 gallon sump, skimmer and lr for filtration. I have all lps corals and 4 fish with 3 snails. Any advice would be appreciated. I don't have any reactors, no room in sump

 

[Tahoe61]

Water changes, smaller ones over a few day. You're coral will look stressed if it an issue. It's really not worth freaking out over. Just some water changes, check your feeding regime and quality of replacement water.

 

[Tautog]

I just had high nitrates in my 180.
I had a deep sand bed, but no more. I was told by a very good source to get rid of it. After doing water changes, my Alkalinity rose to 14. Waiting for it to fall killed a few corals, but others grew.
Be careful to monitor Ca, Mg, and Alkalinity. I had a reduction in Mg, and dosing to raise, seemed to cure the high Alkalinity.
With the smaller tank be careful!

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

Water changes, smaller ones over a few day. You're coral will look stressed if it an issue. It's really not worth freaking out over. Just some water changes, check your feeding regime and quality of replacement water.

Just did a 15 percent, how long till I should do next one and how small? All corals ok, except my goni who I have been having issues with since my heater almost cooked my tank a few months ago. I have no excess algae except a tad on the glass which is very very minimal. I see nothing different then before. I tested with this kit 5 times got 50 to 60 each time, I tested against the api and got 40

 

[a6walter1]

I have known extremely successful reefers that run high nitrates (greater than 50ppm). What was your PO4 at? As long as you have detectable PO4, I wouldn't worry at all about it.

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

I have known extremely successful reefers that run high nitrates (greater than 50ppm). What was your PO4 at? As long as you have detectable PO4, I wouldn't worry at all about it.

My PO4 is .002

 

[a6walter1]

My PO4 is .002

Do you have an chaeto in your refugium? Growing some macro algae can really help facilitate the export of nutrients. My corals use so much nitrate, I have to manually dose Nitrate every day.

 

[ahiggins]

I have an overstocked nano tank and I run a nano nitrate reactor. Keeps my nitrates at 2-5 consistently and I feed heavily.

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

Do you have an chaeto in your refugium? Growing some macro algae can really help facilitate the export of nutrients. My corals use so much nitrate, I have to manually dose Nitrate every day.

I do not. I have heard about it but don't really know what it is..

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

I have an overstocked nano tank and I run a nano nitrate reactor. Keeps my nitrates at 2-5 consistently and I feed heavily.

My sump is so small with skimmer and return pump I don't think I would have room..I'll look into it though!

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

I just had high nitrates in my 180.
I had a deep sand bed, but no more. I was told by a very good source to get rid of it. After doing water changes, my Alkalinity rose to 14. Waiting for it to fall killed a few corals, but others grew.
Be careful to monitor Ca, Mg, and Alkalinity. I had a reduction in Mg, and dosing to raise, seemed to cure the high Alkalinity.
With the smaller tank be careful!

Mines is an inch, inch and a half at most

 

[a6walter1]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3468+2190+2401&pcatid=2401

This is chaeto. You can grow it in your sump. All it needs is some light. You can go to lowes and buy a cheap LED spot light and grow it just fine.

 

[ahiggins]

http://www.tbaquatics.com/media-rea...dia-reactor/?gclid=CPyG8sLT6c8CFQlahgodQ-UHwA
this is a small one but its tall.
I have the outflow of this going straight to the skimmer.
It works amazingly

 

[ahiggins]

I had orginally thought about chaeto but I dont have anywhere to put it in my tank (all in one) that wouldnt float away and clog my return pump.

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3468+2190+2401&pcatid=2401

This is chaeto. You can grow it in your sump. All it needs is some light. You can go to lowes and buy a cheap LED spot light and grow it just fine.

Only issue is I don't have a fuge.can I float it in the sump. I will definitely have one when I upgrade. What I have now is a wet dry trickle sump

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There are many good ways to reduce nitrate.

I discuss them here:

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/nitrate-in-the-reef-aquarium

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

How often or close together is safe to do say 10 percent w/c ? All corals seem open, happy etc and same with fish so should I just continue with my normal w/c and not worry or do a few back to back?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Only issue is I don't have a fuge.can I float it in the sump. I will definitely have one when I upgrade. What I have now is a wet dry trickle sump

how often do you clean there? gunk can build up.

and not worry or do a few back to back?

yes.

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

how often do you clean there? gunk can build up.


yes.

I haven't in a bit. That will be my next water change project, will pull everything out and siphon

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

I'm guessing I have had this high level for a bit. My kit which I bought maybe 6 months ago apparently was expired as of 4 months ago. So maybe this was contributing to issues with my goni which is doing much better since raising alk. Everything else is fine which confuses me even more!