Nitrate Help

[redsman83]

Long story short. I bought a used reef from someone that pretty much had just had enough with it, so he kinda let it go. I brought it home used some of his water to help with the cycle process that I would deal with. Everything died except two different coral and a snail and one fish. It’s been three weeks and I cannot get the nitrates down. Ammonia is zero, but nitrates are high. They were higher because the test tube was a deep red. Now it’s more of an orange color. I’ve done 50% and about a 20% water change so far. I use rodi water also. It’s a 40 gal. breeder tank. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[MnFish1]

Glad you're in the hobby!
It's impossible to know exactly what to recommend - since you didn't post what test you're using - or the actual numbers.

Also - if you brought his tank home - with his things - *(unless it was a long trip) there should be no 'cycle process'). But - if you could give some more information that would be great - How was the transfer done? Did you use the sand (if any)?, was there a big temperature change or something else that killed the fish? Coral?

Lastly - are you sure your ammonia, and nitrate tests are 'correct' - i.e. doublechecked. Hope this helps

 

[redsman83]

Yea I guess I should post the parameters if you’re gonna help, sorry about that. I’m using the API reef test. I used most of his water and all of the sand. There was a temperature fluctuation now that I remember, my son helped and I didn’t know it and he plugged the heater into the controller, but didn’t plug the controller in. My nitrates are 40-50 ppm the best I can tell. My ammonia was like a 0.2 according to the card. I pretty much brought it home and plugged it in.

 

[nereefpat]

I would do another 50% water change. That would drop nitrates to the 20-25 ppm range. Then switch to weekly 10-20% for a while. They'll come down eventually, unless you're overstocked and/or overfeeding.

 

[MnFish1]

Yea I guess I should post the parameters if you’re gonna help, sorry about that. I’m using the API reef test. I used most of his water and all of the sand. There was a temperature fluctuation now that I remember, my son helped and I didn’t know it and he plugged the heater into the controller, but didn’t plug the controller in. My nitrates are 40-50 ppm the best I can tell. My ammonia was like a 0.2 according to the card. I pretty much brought it home and plugged it in.

Many will say API is worthless - I'm not one of those - IF you followed the instructions carefully. Please post them. There is a body of commentary here @brandon429 suggesting that adding back the sand is a bad idea. OK. The ammonia should not be an issue at this point.

 

[MnFish1]

My guess and again I will ask @brandon429 - I think the issues are the sand

 

[PeterEde]

Long story short. I bought a used reef from someone that pretty much had just had enough with it, so he kinda let it go. I brought it home used some of his water to help with the cycle process that I would deal with. Everything died except two different coral and a snail and one fish. It’s been three weeks and I cannot get the nitrates down. Ammonia is zero, but nitrates are high. They were higher because the test tube was a deep red. Now it’s more of an orange color. I’ve done 50% and about a 20% water change so far. I use rodi water also. It’s a 40 gal. breeder tank. Any help would be appreciated.

I have struggled with high No3 for ages
I am dosing NOPOX in to a 30 gallon at 6ml per day. Followed instructions at 3.6ml for a few months and saw little change. Then as per advice here I increased NOPOX dose weekly up to 6ml no and my Nitrate is pretty consistent at 25ish after doing a heap of 20 litre water changes.
You can calculate the No3 drop as it's directly related to litres

 

[redsman83]

I’m new to all this, so my opinion isn’t worth much. But I was thinking it is the sand. Now to know if it the sand, obviously I’d have to clean the sand. Is the tube thing with the hose adequate to clean the sand or not?

 

[homer1475]

How old is this tank?

Yes a sand bed is a nutrient trap, but unless its a couple months/years old, and has never been touched, it is not the issue.

And yes you should vaccum the sandbed to keep the junk out of it. A python gravel vac works great for this(the tube thing with a hose as you put it).

 

[PeterEde]

How old is this tank?

Yes a sand bed is a nutrient trap, but unless its a couple months/years old, and has never been touched, it is not the issue.

And yes you should vaccum the sandbed to keep the junk out of it. A python gravel vac works great for this(the tubve thing with a hose as you put it).

Should not the bacterial population counter the nutrients? If left alone long enough to grow?
Although I've not vacuumed my sand in nearly 12 months. My sand sifting goby and nasarius snails do a great job in turning it over

 

[homer1475]

Should not the bacterial population counter the nutrients? If left alone long enough to grow?
Although I've not vacuumed my sand in nearly 12 months. My sand sifting goby and nasarius snails do a great job in turning it over

Yes and no. Think of it this way.....

You have critters eating the leftover rotting material, they still have to defecate. So they just break it down smaller, it's still waste. The animal that turn the sandbed, just prolong the process. All waste in a tank eventually turns to nitrates, then into nitrogen gas(least thats what we hope happens).

This is the thinking people had years ago, and what leads to tank crashes or "old tank syndrome". The sandbed needs to be cleaned at some point, or it can eventually crash the tank(hydrogen sulfide).

 

[MnFish1]

I have struggled with high No3 for ages
I am dosing NOPOX in to a 30 gallon at 6ml per day. Followed instructions at 3.6ml for a few months and saw little change. Then as per advice here I increased NOPOX dose weekly up to 6ml no and my Nitrate is pretty consistent at 25ish after doing a heap of 20 litre water changes.
You can calculate the No3 drop as it's directly related to litres

If you want to reduce your nitrate by 50 percent - do a 50 percent water change

 

[PeterEde]

If you want to reduce your nitrate by 50 percent - do a 50 percent water change

yeah did one once
Caused me all kinds of grief for weeks to get things back to normal.
Only do 5-10% now if at all

 

[MnFish1]

yeah did one once
Caused me all kinds of grief for weeks to get things back to normal.
Only do 5-10% now if at all

Thats a mistake - unless your salt is somehow not being mixed correctly, etc. There is no reason - that especially in a tank containing what yours does - that a 80% water change would cause a problem . If you want the nitrates down - just change the water - that will take the nitrates down - no struggle.

 

[PeterEde]

Thats a mistake - unless your salt is somehow not being mixed correctly, etc. There is no reason - that especially in a tank containing what yours does - that a 80% water change would cause a problem . If you want the nitrates down - just change the water - that will take the nitrates down - no struggle.

Happy with where No3 is atm. It's heading down.
Not sure all my corals like low nitrate. I have a finger leather that has never opened and the best it looks is with No3 between 25-35. Above and below it wilts. But has never opened since being in my tank. That one coral is driving me nuts

 

[redsman83]

How old is this tank?

Yes a sand bed is a nutrient trap, but unless its a couple months/years old, and has never been touched, it is not the issue.

And yes you should vaccum the sandbed to keep the junk out of it. A python gravel vac works great for this(the tube thing with a hose as you put it).

I’m not real sure. He said he’s had it up for awhile. He got busy and just pretty much let it go.

 

[MnFish1]

I’m not real sure. He said he’s had it up for awhile. He got busy and just pretty much let it go.

Assuming you put in 'only a little water' - from he old tank - and assuming there wasn't a lot of dead stuff you left in the tank IMHO - something is wrong with your testing. But a 100% water change will fix your nitrate problem

 

[MnFish1]

yeah did one once
Caused me all kinds of grief for weeks to get things back to normal.
Only do 5-10% now if at all

Sorry I didn't see this before. The amount of water that needs to be changed to keep nitrate at xxx level - can be calculated easily. First - you determine how much nitrate your tank is producing per week (or over 2 weeks). Check The nitrate after a water change. Wait a week - Check nitrate. Two weeks later check again to verify. while doing all of your usual filtration, etc. You can calculate your Nitrate production /day by averaging out the 3 values. I.e. subtract Measurement 1 from measurement 2, and Subtract measurement 2 for measurement 3. Then average the 2 results - that gives you the nitrate produced per week. You can then use this calculator to determine the proper amount of water change (if you're using water changes to manage nitrate):

Effect of Water Changes Calculator

Aquarium calculator; Estimate the effect of repeated water changes on the concentration of a given substance.

www.hamzasreef.com

hope this helps