Larger Nitrate Spike

[jhrightyhein]

Hi, I have a 155 gallon bow front tank it has been up and running for 9 months. I recently had a large nitrate spike to over 75ppm Hanna checker reads. I have 6 fish, 3 clowns 2 hawk fish and a neon goby, as well as a few snails. Not sure what happened or how to treat to lower nitrate? Thanks in advance!

 

[Xxflounderxx]

Welcome to the forum!!! Can I ask what your levels are alk, calcium ext.. when is the last time you did a water change?

 

[dstockwell]

Welcome to the Reef

 

[Kolbyk]

Consistency is key!

 

[Spare time]

Make sure to double check the test if possible.

You can either:
-liquid carbon dose
-run a refugium
-run biopellets
-run an algae scrubber
-do a water change

 

[jhrightyhein]

Welcome to the forum!!! Can I ask what your levels are alk, calcium ext.. when is the last time you did a water change?

Salinity is 1.025
Alkalinity is 8.3
Ph is 8.1
Phosphate is .06

Last water change was Thursday 8/25

 

[jhrightyhein]

Thank you!

Welcome to the Reef

 

[jhrightyhein]

Consistency is key!

How often do you do water changes?

 

[jhrightyhein]

Make sure to double check the test if possible.

You can either:
-liquid carbon dose
-run a refugium
-run biopellets
-run an algae scrubber
-do a water change

I was doing research and read about a denitrifying dose from Seachem and wasn’t sure if that was a good place to start?

 

[Kolbyk]

How often do you do water changes?

How often do you do water changes?

You’d have to test on weekly or bi weekly basis and start from there. Water changes will solely be based off water parameters and consistency of the tank and yourself.

 

[Rmckoy]

Being 155 gals water changes large enough to be effective will be costly and back breaking . Even a 50% water change will only give you 37.5ppm as the best possibility

before doing anything confirm your test results are accurate with another trusted test kit .

personally I would ride it out doing frequent water changes as well as paying attention to what’s being added ( food )

adding a Refugium will help but it’s not a quick fix , it takes time .
same as carbon dosing .

high nitrates are not as bad as fluctuating levels .
Stability is far more important

 

[jhrightyhein]

You’d have to test on weekly or bi weekly basis and start from there. Water changes will solely be based off water parameters and consistency of the tank and yourself.

Sounds good thank you for your input!

 

[jhrightyhein]

Being 155 gals water changes large enough to be effective will be costly and back breaking . Even a 50% water change will only give you 37.5ppm as the best possibility

before doing anything confirm your test results are accurate with another trusted test kit .

personally I would ride it out doing frequent water changes as well as paying attention to what’s being added ( food )

adding a Refugium will help but it’s not a quick fix , it takes time .
same as carbon dosing .

high nitrates are not as bad as fluctuating levels .
Stability is far more important

Makes sense. I will start with more frequent water changes and testing and then I’ll go from there! I appreciate you taking the time to share you’re opinion!

 

[Spare time]

I was doing research and read about a denitrifying dose from Seachem and wasn’t sure if that was a good place to start?

Are you referring to their product "de*nitrate?"

 

[jhrightyhein]

Are you referring to their product "de*nitrate?"

Yes

 

[Spare time]

Yes

Eh I wouldn't. Matrix and de*nitrate are probably not going to make a noticeable difference (matrix is the better product) or it would take a while. I'd look at some other options first such as what I listed above.

 

[LeftyReefer]

Are you running a skimmer?

Can you run it wetter?

 

[jhrightyhein]

Eh I wouldn't. Matrix and de*nitrate are probably not going to make a noticeable difference (matrix is the better product) or it would take a while. I'd look at some other options first such as what I listed above.

Sounds good. Thanks for the info I appreciate it!

 

[jhrightyhein]

Are you running a skimmer?

Can you run it wetter?

I am running skimmer. I adjusted slightly to see if it made any difference