i need some helpful advice please

[fireman23]

My nitrates are really high. I tested my nitrates foe the first time lastnight. I used an api test kit and they were 140ppm. Here's what else i test for
Calcium 470 red sea pro test
Alk 8 red sea pro
Mag 1500 red sea pro
Salinity 1.024
Phosphate 0 Api
Temp 80

I use ro/di water, my skimmer is a warner marine 181, my tank is a 110 gallon rr tank, I have a 20 long sump with macro algae ,

My flow thru the macro algae and return section of my sump are low. Sometimes i notice a film on top of the water on return section. The return section is in between the skimmer and macro algae sections. My fish are healthy and great. Ive noticed some corals losing color. I just got an avast bio pellet reactor that hasnt been set up yet. I run a tlf reactor with rowaphos. I have no signs of algae in display. Its been a month since last water change. Should i start there.

 

[Squishie89]

Yes do a water change.

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[Downbeach]

I would get a Salifert kit for your NO3, and a Hanna meter for your PO4. If you're using a swing arm type hydrometer, I'd replace it with a refractometer with some calibration fluid (35ppt), and get your salinity up to 1.026 (35ppt). I would do bi-monthly WC's of about 10 gal. ea., you might do them more frequently, for a while until you get your NO3 down. How is your macro algae doing?

 

[fireman23]

My macro algae is growing great. Ive always,run my salinity in the 1.024 to 025 range. Tank has been set up for almost 2 years now. Thought a couple pieces of coral were losing color due to light starvation because my tank is 30 deep and i run two 175w halides and two 54w t5's actinic. Now wondering if nitrates are the

 

[fireman23]

I also usually do one a month water changes. Guess ill do bi weekly

 

[Dowtish]

+1 to all that has been suggested.

I wouldnt totally trust that test kit. Try testing again, and then either get it tested at a LFS, and go get another test kit to compare. And get that EcoBak running asap.

 

[fireman23]

Ill take to lfs and have them test also tonight. Thanks for the replies

 

[.AcroKiller.]

Make an algae scrubber. If you need help let me know. It will remove your nitrates faster than any on the market and they are cheap to make. The next thing is bio pellets but will take longer

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[pickupman66]

Yup.... them is high nitrates. Water change is best bet.

Also on the ecobak (or most of the others for that matter) they reduce nitrate and phosphate in a linear fashion. Eg: for every 10 nitrates removed there must be 1 phosphate to remove. I've personally seen this ring true in my tank having zero nitrates and .04 phosphates and them not going down. Using gfo and heavier feeding solved this. I am now at .02 on my Hannah.

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[fireman23]

Maybe i do need differrnt test kit. Pet store said it was a little high. Said water change should take care of it. Doing a 25 gallon water change tonight. Csn high nitrates affect corals colors

 

[thejoshdavis]

Maybe i do need differrnt test kit. Pet store said it was a little high. Said water change should take care of it. Doing a 25 gallon water change tonight. Csn high nitrates affect corals colors

yep. sadly i know from personal experience

 

[fireman23]

That sucks then . Must be whats wrong with my galaxea

 

[thejoshdavis]

water changes and keeping on eye on my water params resolved it, color came back.

 

[Pappy]

Do 30% wc every 3 days til they come down then do 10% a week.

 

[Dowtish]

When they said, "a little high" How high are we talking? did they give you a number, and what kind of test did they use?

 

[fireman23]

No he didnt give me a number. Was on a la motte test kit. It was between 5 and 6. Dont know what the ppm is on that

 

[Dowtish]

Yeah, I'm not familiar with those test kits.