My nitrate issue?

[Mark C]

My nitrates are currently hovering around 20ppm.
I have lost a few trumpet corals, one hammer, and a torch.
But my anemones, feathers, mushrooms, toadstools are all doing well.
It is a 125 gallon reef tank that's been up and running for about 10 months now.
I am currently trying to reduce the nitrates with a nitrate pad and water change.
My question is, "Is the reason a few of my corals are dying because of the elevated nitrates?
Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[sk8elenex92]

I don't think that would make hammer or trumpets die. I have about 20 to 30 for 4 months all there all growing well.

 

[brentd]

Do you keep calcium, magnesium, and alk in check? Temp is good? Etc. If all other parameters are good outside of nitrate, then nitrate is the obvious culprit. Also, some corals have a higher threshold on how high nitrates can be. My guess is that the nitrate problem is what has caused the coral deaths. You may need to do a huge 40-50% water change!

 

[Tahoe61]

Long ago in a galaxy far away I never tested nitrates nor ran a skimmer.....Nitrates of 20 never killed my coral infact some LPS actually looked better. I would check the basic water chemistry Ca/Alk/Mag and SG, do the water changes to get the Nitrate value down and more manageable.

 

[Mark C]

My SG is good;
My alk is 3.30
My calcium is 550
Temp is 78
Thanks for the suggestions, I will let you know how things go once I manage to get my nitrate levels acceptable.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Theres your reason.
Alk needs to be between 7-12. Also need your Mag results. Should be between 1250-1350. Also, 20 on the Nitrates table is pretty good with LPS and Softies.
If your SG is good, what is the number? Should be between 1.025-1.027
Your calcium is a bit on the high side, as you shouldn't let it go above 460, unless you got a bunch of Clams in there just eating it up.

 

[mcarroll]

Hopefully that's 3.3 meq/L?

 

[Mark C]

Okay, just got finished taking water parameter measurements.
SG: 1.024
Alk: 3.30 meg/L
Phosphate:0
Nitrates are now: 5-10
Cal: 550
Temp: 78
I have not tested my magnesium levels yet because my pet store is closed on Monday. But I will do a test tomorrow.

 

[Dalmatia]

Okay, just got finished taking water parameter measurements.
SG: 1.024
Alk: 3.30 meg/L
Phosphate:0
Nitrates are now: 5-10
Cal: 550
Temp: 78
I have not tested my magnesium levels yet because my pet store is closed on Monday. But I will do a test tomorrow.

Sorry but how much is 3.30meg/L = in ppm?

 

[Mark C]

7kh

 

[Dalmatia]

7kh

Thanks, ya that's low

 

[Mark C]

Took more water parameter tests today; results are as follows:
SG: 1.024
Alk: 3.19 meg/L or 7.0 Kh
Phosphate:0
Nitrates are now: 5-10
Cal: 550
Magnesium: 1500
Temp: 78

The magnesium levels were high, is this a problem?

 

[Dalmatia]

Do a water change with 1.027-1.028 to get your salinity at 1.025-1.026!
That may balance out your parameters (KH, & Cal.) not sure about the mag.

 

[Reefing Madness]

NA, your Mag is ok. Alot run it close to 1600.
Wheres your PH at?

 

[glb]

Those numbers don't seem off enough to kill a coral like a trumpet. Alk should be 8-12kh, mg c. 1320, ca 400-450, so your numbers aren't that bad.

 

[Mark C]

I'm currently dosing every other day to increase the alkalinity and to decrease the calcium levels as well.
I will do a Ph reading tomorrow. Thanks everyone!

 

[Reefing Madness]

Whats wrong with 7dKH?

 

[Lokipsl]

Whats wrong with 7dKH?

It seems most people have the best results in the 9-10dkh range. I shoot for 10 and as my tank uses up alk I fall into the 9 range. I have best growth doing this

 

[Mark C]

I'm trying to raise the alkalinity to decrease the calcium levels.

 

[Reefing Madness]

It seems most people have the best results in the 9-10dkh range. I shoot for 10 and as my tank uses up alk I fall into the 9 range. I have best growth doing this

7 is natural sea water level. And at the rate we dose our tanks today, theres no reason to go above it anymore. Its easy to keep 7dKH. And its a tweener, alot of peeps keeping SPS keep it in the lower range.