My test kit maxes out for nitrates at 160, it was at 160 when I tested before water change and has stayed at 160 still after a 40% water change, my fish and corals still seem to be happy and eating well with these nitrate levels but what other ways are the best to reduce nitrates
High nitrates
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Scott (Mack) McIntosh
Community Member
Retest with different test kit. Feed less. Water change. Someone once said "It doesn't matter what the problem is....water change". But to be sure you can get a "mail in" test kit from BRS that you take a water sample and send it into a Laboratory in Colorado and get the real sats on your water. I've used them a couple of times...fast results and more info than I knew what to do with. Worth a try.
Agree with verifying the test. I assume you are using NYOS with the 160 number? I've found their color chart doesn't represent the actual colors well once NO3 get's above 12. What size tank? What's your fish stocking? What/how much do you feed? How high is your PO4? If that NO3 is accurate PO4 is likely very high as well.
If it is that high, some options are carbon dosing, biopellets, algae scrubber or a product such Brightwell's XportNO3 blocks. Which ever method you use don't be in a hurry since everything is doing fine. You don't want to bottom your nutrients out .....that is not good.
If it is that high, some options are carbon dosing, biopellets, algae scrubber or a product such Brightwell's XportNO3 blocks. Which ever method you use don't be in a hurry since everything is doing fine. You don't want to bottom your nutrients out .....that is not good.
I used the API test kit to get maximum reading of 160, the tank is 80g and currently only has a pair of ocellaris clowns, and a small silver spot tang.
would it be a bad idea to do small water changes for a few days in a row to try get the nitrates down?
would it be a bad idea to do small water changes for a few days in a row to try get the nitrates down?
WisconsinReefing
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That size with 3 small fish, really makes me feel like it has to be over feeding
goliwala
Active Member
Don't panic and try too many things at once. While everyone has good suggestions, The best is to re-test. How is your skimmer performing? If you have confirmed that NO3 is really that high, do a series of large water changes with a day or two in between.
Alvaro_Spain
Active Member
when was the tank set? It seems that your bacterial colony is not working to me. 160 NO3 is really high
IslandLifeReef
Valuable Member
Several small water changes really won't put much of a dent in NO3 that is that high. I would verify that reading with a LFS before doing anything else unless you see your fish/coral suffering.
The tank is around 10 months old and skimmer seems to be working just fine
I’ve got loads of bristle worms if that could affect anything? I’ve been removing them recently but there is still a lot there
My Xenia also isn’t pulsing as it should but usually still opens up
I’ve got loads of bristle worms if that could affect anything? I’ve been removing them recently but there is still a lot there
My Xenia also isn’t pulsing as it should but usually still opens up
Loads of bristle worms would suggest excess food. Their numbers usually vary with available food. It will be difficult to reduce NO3 with just water changes. Verify it's really that high before doing anything else. Agree with getting a better test kit (Salifert is a good one).
I'm pretty much dealing with the same problem. I had very high nitrates. I only have one fish and barely feed him but nitrates kept climbing. I cleaned out sump, pulled out all sand washed it and cut my sand bed down to about 3/4inch. I did a 75% water change and multiple 25% water changes and nitrates kept climbing. A local guy gave me a bunch if chaeto to put in my sump and after less than a week it finally looks like nitrates are going down.
Jase4224
Well-Known Member
Water changes are an ok way to temporarily reduce nitrates but should not be relied upon as nitrate removal. You need more effective filtration whether it be a combination of better flow in tank with better skimming, filter socks and a fuge. When you water change it’s not how much water you change that’s important but how much detritus you remove that counts. Vacuum your sand! Use your water changes to prevent build up of rotting material, and use filtration to keep the water quality high. BRS videos are really worth watching especially the BRS/WWC method series.
Just ordered a new test kit but won’t arrive for a few days, what else could I do in the mean time incase they are actually that high?
I’ve got some tunnels and overhangs I’ve created with the rock and can’t get the siphon under there to clean the sand is there any good inverts that could clean under there or any other ways to reduce nitrate that’s effective? I’ve heard of using vodka but that seems dangerous to the fish?
I’ve got some tunnels and overhangs I’ve created with the rock and can’t get the siphon under there to clean the sand is there any good inverts that could clean under there or any other ways to reduce nitrate that’s effective? I’ve heard of using vodka but that seems dangerous to the fish?
