Nitrate Numbers High

Braves Fan · Sep 28, 2009

To make a long story short, I was over feeding the fish in my tank and that had the numbers high. I have since corrected this over feeding problem and as of say three weeks ago and the numbers I thought would be starting to go down and they aren't. Yes, I have been doing weekly water changes in the tank of about 27g a week in a 125g tank. The one thing I might be doing that is keeping my numbers high is I put two leaves of Romain lettuce in the tank each day before going to work to give the fish something to munch on during the day, I give them a piece of Nori in the evening (small). So, my question, is this Romain lettuce keeping my nitrate numbers high?

MikeD88 · Sep 28, 2009

It could be, but in a tank that big... i doubt it. Are they huge pieces? If they are too big, i'd guess most of it gets bit off and floats around your tank. That would increase nitrates. I recommend doing a few water changes of a bigger volume. Maybe even do your next 2 water changes at a %40 water change.

AZDesertRat · Sep 28, 2009

How many and what size fish do you have? How much live rock, what is the substrate, sump, refugium, do you have macroalgaes etc?
How often do you feed now and how much? What do you feed?
Have you checked your phosphates? Do you run carbon 24/7?

Lots of questions but they all have something to do with nitrate production and its removal.

Frank · Sep 29, 2009

I have the same problem in my 60g. I have no refugum and run no carbon. To bring mine down I do 3 to 4 20 gallon changes every 3 to 5 days. Tank is way over crowed, I love to over feed the fish and corals it keeps them happy.

agsansoo · Sep 30, 2009

Water changes isn't a good way to lower nitrates long term. Besides, huge water changes may be quite uncomfortable to your livestock.
Here what I've picked up on lowering nitrates:
- 1-2 lbs of LR per gallon.
- good water flow
- heavy protein skimming
- not overfeeding
- running bare bottom
- dosing VSV, prodibio, veovit or NeoZeo

AZDesertRat · Sep 30, 2009

Thats one of many methods. I prefer a deep sand bed myself, bare bottom just does not look natural. With 330 lbs of Southdown sugar sand and 168 lbs of Kaelini live rock in my 100G I never see measurable nitrates. No supplements or additives required and almost zero maintenance since the DSB takes care of itself.

JR's Reef · Sep 30, 2009

strout said:
To make a long story short, I was over feeding the fish in my tank and that had the numbers high. I have since corrected this over feeding problem and as of say three weeks ago and the numbers I thought would be starting to go down and they aren't. Yes, I have been doing weekly water changes in the tank of about 27g a week in a 125g tank. The one thing I might be doing that is keeping my numbers high is I put two leaves of Romain lettuce in the tank each day before going to work to give the fish something to munch on during the day, I give them a piece of Nori in the evening (small). So, my question, is this Romain lettuce keeping my nitrate numbers high?

They didnt go up over night and not going to come back down over night. It takes longer to get them back down tho. I would cut back on the Romain and see if that helps. Let us know how it goes