high nitrates

[drakebuffie]

API test. 0 ammonia 0 nitrites ph 8.4 nitrates over 80 ppm

I have 1 clown fish I need to get out of there. Other than that I have hermits and snails. 1 elephant ear mushroom 1 small greenish common mushroom and a monti frag.

Are nitrates that high bad for the corals? I know its only water changes that will bring it down.

I really dont know how the trates got that high as I do weekly 5 gal water changes in a 70 gal tank. Last week according to my LFS everything was good. I have my own tests now and testing last night showed the elevated trates.

I will be removing this clown and letting the tank be fishless for about 3 months.

 

[BanjoBandito]

I mean....it's not "desirable". There is so much out there it's hard to understand what likes what and what is actually bad. Stability seems to be more important. Personally, I like my nitrates under 30. I'd also confirm your tests, and if they are accurate you need to change out water. That's the easiest way to get nitrates down. Do it slowly. Corals "eat" nitrates and phosphates to a degree, but that is plenty. Why would you remove the clown? is it sick? Is it acting weird?

 

[Clownreef]

I’ve been reefing for 22 years.

i had nitrates at 42.5 ppm on May 16. They’re at 22 right now and decreasing. I have a 350 gallon tank and dose 30 ml every 24 hours.

The only thing that will bring them down this fast is No Pox. No water changes. Nothing else.

carbon dosing, etc will take time…

 

[Clownreef]

Also could you please post a picture of the tank. That’s the easiest way to see what’s going on.

 

[homer1475]

Carbon dosing will work, but only if you have a large amount of phosphates too.

Often times people will start carbon dosing(NoPox) and see no results. Simply because the bacteria need nitrates, and phosphates to reproduce. With no phosphates, your just dumping a chemical in your tank with no benefit.

We often see systems that are carbon dosing to be deficient in phosphates, and 0 depletion in nitrates. Dosing phosphates will resume the carbon dosing effects.

 

[BanjoBandito]

distilled white vinegar is cheaper than nopox. I'm not sure we should be telling someone to carbon dose based off one post....

 

[drakebuffie]

I will post pictures of tank tonight. Also check phosphates.

 

[Lasse]

You do not need to take out the clownfish just for your nitrates - it will not do him/she any damage. IMO you should confirm your nitrate readings with another test before you does anything else.

Do not PANIC!!!!

Sincerely Lasse

 

[drakebuffie]

Reason for taking out clownfish is I beleive there is brook in the tank. Long story discussed in other posts. I figured safest bet was to let the tank go fallow other than inverts and corals for long enough to kill whatever parasite killed the other fish in my tank. The last one left has something going on with his tail. Almost like someone cut it jagged.....not tatters and splits but the tail is definitley not fully formed any longer.

Long story short I got a puffer from a guy a few months ago thinking he would be ok for a while and he was but he was very unhappy for a few weeks in my tank. I gave it back to the guy and a week after he put it back in his tank like 3 of his tangs died from brook. I lost 2 fish over 3 weeks but never saw any signs of illness. All eating fine and acting fine then dead. I just figured fallow the tank for 75 days and be more careful next time since its only 1 clown left.

As far as testing I will take the water to my lfs and see. This is an old test kit but not expired.

 

[Rmckoy]

API test. 0 ammonia 0 nitrites ph 8.4 nitrates over 80 ppm

I have 1 clown fish I need to get out of there. Other than that I have hermits and snails. 1 elephant ear mushroom 1 small greenish common mushroom and a monti frag.

Are nitrates that high bad for the corals? I know its only water changes that will bring it down.

I really dont know how the trates got that high as I do weekly 5 gal water changes in a 70 gal tank. Last week according to my LFS everything was good. I have my own tests now and testing last night showed the elevated trates.

I will be removing this clown and letting the tank be fishless for about 3 months.

Essentially . You’re changing 7%
The best you can get is 7% if the new water is 0ppm nitrates which could not be enough to be noticeable .
Increase the volume of your water changes with known 0ppm nitrate water
What test kits are you using ?
could testing error or inaccurate tests be considered ? Absolutely

 

[Lasse]

Reason for taking out clownfish is I beleive there is brook in the tank. Long story discussed in other posts. I figured safest bet was to let the tank go fallow other than inverts and corals for long enough to kill whatever parasite killed the other fish in my tank. The last one left has something going on with his tail. Almost like someone cut it jagged.....not tatters and splits but the tail is definitley not fully formed any longer.

Long story short I got a puffer from a guy a few months ago thinking he would be ok for a while and he was but he was very unhappy for a few weeks in my tank. I gave it back to the guy and a week after he put it back in his tank like 3 of his tangs died from brook. I lost 2 fish over 3 weeks but never saw any signs of illness. All eating fine and acting fine then dead. I just figured fallow the tank for 75 days and be more careful next time since its only 1 clown left.

As far as testing I will take the water to my lfs and see. This is an old test kit but not expired.

OK - it make sense

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Clownreef]

distilled white vinegar is cheaper than nopox. I'm not sure we should be telling someone to carbon dose based off one post....

NoPox works for me so idk..

 

[BanjoBandito]

NoPox works for me so idk..

Yeah I know I’m not knocking the success or process is just saying carbon dosing isn’t something I take lightly or think should be a go to remedy. To each his own though. I guess I’m just saying “disclaimer”.

 

[drakebuffie]

Tank is going into its 4th month

 

[drakebuffie]

Also could you please post a picture of the tank. That’s the easiest way to see what’s going on.

pictures posted

 

[Clownreef]

pictures posted

Those rocks look pretty dead. There’s not enough bacteria there…

 

[drakebuffie]

Those rocks look pretty dead. There’s not enough bacteria there…

How can you tell by looking how much bacteria is in tank?

Tank has been set up since march 5. I used bacteria in a bottle the first couple months at water change. There is media in back of tank to also hold bactria and I added about 8 pounds of live rock from the LFS to seed the tank.

Not telling you that you are wrong. Just wondering how you could possibly tell? From what I understand dead rock becomes live over time after it is seeded. High nitrates wouldnt indicate not enough bacteria would it? High ammonia or trites would.

 

[Clownreef]

Because that rock is not seeded. It looks like base rock that is trying to become live rock. If you’re not going to have sand, have lots of live rock. There is really no coralline algae. I’ve been in the hobby for a couple of decades. Believe me when i say there’s no enough live rock to maintain a healthy nitrifying bacteria balance.

how many fish do you have? How much do you feed? It looks like a very young aquarium.

 

[drakebuffie]

Because that rock is not seeded. It looks like base rock that is trying to become live rock. If you’re not going to have sand, have lots of live rock. There is really no coralline algae. I’ve been in the hobby for a couple of decades. Believe me when i say there’s no enough live rock to maintain a healthy nitrifying bacteria balance.

how many fish do you have? How much do you feed? It looks like a very young aquarium.

I had 2 clowns, a longtooth blenny and a cardinal as well as an 8 inch puffer far too big for the tank for about a month or so. Got rid of puffer into a 330 tank. After the puffer left the tank everything died except the one clown.

Would adding sand now be ok? Or would whatever I am covering with it rot and cause problems?

I will tank better overall tank pictures and add them. You are correct that the majority of the rock was base rock with only bacteria in a bottle and a few pieces of real LR from the LFS. I just figured that was good enough because eventually the base rock would become live.

 

[Clownreef]

Im going to be completely honest.. there’s more than one way to approach problems. Especially in established tanks vs newer tanks.

It sounds like you’ve had a series of problems. Some of them it seems because you are rushing to stock the tank. Trust me, i get it, I love getting new fish and coral but nothing good happens if we rush.

It is so important to build a strong foundation if you want the tank to last a very long time. Having a successful reef is a series of building blocks.

If I were you i would empty it out and start over. You can have a successful bare bottom aquarium but you need other ways for bacteria to thrive.

Id drain it, start off with clean water, more live rock, and a plan. Find a system that inspires you and follow that plan.

You will start off with no brooklynella, no nitrates .. just a clean start to build a strong foundation.

Don’t think of it as time wasted but a lesson.

of course you can do what you think it’s best but I’d start over.