Live rock

[WITang]

Is it possible to have too much liverock? Can it be a cause of higher nitrates after I've tried EVERYTHING else?

 

[veselym]

what have you tried and how big is the tank? how much rock? livestock and feeding schedule?

 

[WITang]

I've done everything! Its a 60 gal and I have about 110 lbs of liverock

 

[veselym]

I don't know what "everything entails"...multiple large WC's? less feeding? using macroalgae?

110lbs does seem like a lot and the only thing it might be causing is detritus build up

how strong is your clean up crew and again how many fish

 

[Bad Company]

Nitrates are the end more or less of the nitrogen cycle. You can't have too much live rock, but as you tank cycles, a lot if die off in it can cause a longer cycle. Once you have it established, more live rock typically allows for more surface area, which is usually a good thing.

 

[WITang]

Yes big water changes, minimal food, macro algae in my sump. I just did a 35% water change and it didn't touch my nitrates! I have 4 fish, 2 shrimp, and some hermits. Sorry I'm just tired of getting nowhere!

 

[veselym]

what kind of water are you using? what are the nitrate levels at in the tank and have you tested the newly mixed salt water for nitrate levels?

 

[WITang]

I use tap but I've tested it and its at 0. My tank is at about 80

 

[veselym]

it hasn't budged at all since the 35% WC? it should have lowered it to 50 or so, what kind of test kit are you using?

is there a lot of detritus in the tank or has any of your live stock gone missing?

 

[WITang]

No livestock missing. Ya my nitrates didn't budge! Api is what I'm using

 

[veselym]

that's odd, maybe try another test kit or take some water in to a LFS to confirm the numbers...I would try basting all the rocks with a turkey baster to blow detritus out and then do another 35-50% WC, sucking out as much detritus as possible

I would also suggest getting an RODI if you are going to keep coral