High Nitrates

[Icedog]

Sorry it's been so long, but I wanted to incorporate some of your suggestions before my next post.

In the past couple of weeks I've been cleaning the protein skimmer and changing the filter sock every three days. And earlier this week I did a 10% water change, while vacuuming out the sand bed. During the vacuuming process I brushed the red alga off the rock and siphoned off as much as I could. I then left the tank dark for about three days, and so far the alga doesn't seem to be growing back.

One day after the water change I tested for nitrates - again, got about 40 ppm, same as before I instituted my maintenance changes. I took the same water sample to two different LFS's for testing - one reported the nitrates as zero and the other reported the nitrates as 20 ppm.

One of these fish stores also tested phosphates for me - the result on that was 0.25 ppm. I also bought a phosphate test kit and did my own test - again, the result was 0.25 ppm.

My question at this point: Is this phosphate level of 0.25 ppm okay? I'd like to start adding some corals and anemones, but I'm concerned about this and the nitrate levels.

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

Sorry it's been so long, but I wanted to incorporate some of your suggestions before my next post.

In the past couple of weeks I've been cleaning the protein skimmer and changing the filter sock every three days. And earlier this week I did a 10% water change, while vacuuming out the sand bed. During the vacuuming process I brushed the red alga off the rock and siphoned off as much as I could. I then left the tank dark for about three days, and so far the alga doesn't seem to be growing back.

One day after the water change I tested for nitrates - again, got about 40 ppm, same as before I instituted my maintenance changes. I took the same water sample to two different LFS's for testing - one reported the nitrates as zero and the other reported the nitrates as 20 ppm.

One of these fish stores also tested phosphates for me - the result on that was 0.25 ppm. I also bought a phosphate test kit and did my own test - again, the result was 0.25 ppm.

My question at this point: Is this phosphate level of 0.25 ppm okay? I'd like to start adding some corals and anemones, but I'm concerned about this and the nitrate levels.

Might be time to start dosing Vibrant, I recently started using it, and though its a little early to report the progress, there is a thread on it that has a lot of good feed back on it. but remember, all tanks are different, and I would say that if your tank is at least 6 months old and has a decently established bacterial bio filter, you could add livestock, but really keep an eye on the nitrate and phosphate levels, don't let them creep any higher. the vibrant will help bring them down, but testing will be your true gauge there. and on top of that, stability is the true key to success, not chasing the numbers.

Barnabie

 

[BeejReef]

A phosphate level of .25 is probably considered high, but not hugely so. Plenty of people run tanks at or above that.
The nitrate issue and the inconsistent numbers you are getting, and the LFS, is problematic. Just like you can't control nitrate well with 0 phosphate, you can't control phosphate well with 0 nitrate.

Not through lack of effort, but you have no idea what your parameter is.

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has been a great help to me. No need to buy three sets of tests for every parameter. Use it and you can know with relative certainty if your numbers make sense.

IMHO, I'd hold off on adding new stuff, especially anemones, until you've got your current issues sorted out. With so many things changing and potential treatments on the horizon, if any of your new animals start to struggle, you'll be dealing with 9 possible variables.

 

[Icedog]

I've been changing my filter sock and emptying my skimmer ever three days now for several weeks. Today I tested my water and saw that the nitrates were at 40 ppm and the phosphates were at 0. So I think this is looking good - what do all of your think?

 

[KleineVampir]

Get yourself a couple of these bad boys. They have the ability to house denitrifying bacteria which can naturally get rid of your nitrates.