Hey everyone, I have a 55g. reef, just built a 20L refugium/sump and about to install a protein skimmer as well. My tank is around a year old. However, here's the kicker, about 3 months ago I had a ridiculous spike in nitrates/nitrites. I did a 50% water change followed by two 25%, now ever since then I do about a 10-15% water change once a week and only feed my very underpopulated tank (2 fish now) one little Marine Cuisine cube a week, and scoop out what they don't eat. Trust me my salt bill is adding up. My nitrates are still staying around 30. Nitrites are near 0 and all the other parameters are great. Why can't I get my nitrates lower? I'm hoping this refugium and skimmer will greatly reduce them.
Mystery Nitrates (NO3)
- Thread starter TexasandKeysGuy
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Well the water changes with that low of a bioload should do it BUT....the presence of Nitrites is more concerning that the level of your nitrates. With your tank at near a year old testing for Nitrates should really not even be a concern. What are your tanks other water parameters and what salt are you using? Are you having any other issues such as algae, Cyano, etc... Give a broader picture of whats going on and help is most assuredly on the way. With the presence of Nitrite is there any ammonia showing? I mean at a year in they should be non existent. Do you have corals in the tank? If not then the N03 level really is not very troubling but if your P04 and Alk, etc... are out of whack then other problems could just be around the corner.... Skimmer will certainly help things out..are you using any other form of filtration or just live rock??
