Nitrate problem

[Volpone]

I will chime in and say I fought this battle recently and got my nitrates from around 20 to 2 with an Algae Scrubber.

However I have these questions and do admit I am late to the discussion, so I didn't read the entire thread.

How deep is the sand bed and do you vacuum the sand?
Whats your feeding schedule?

"Z"

Feeding daily one time , my sand bed not that deep around 4 c.m

 

[mrs.nanoreef]

The problem here is you have several options to fixing this problem and you need to pick one the will fit into your schedule budget and personal preferences. I think that where you should start is getting some bacteria to boost start your pellets especially since you already invested in the pellets and give your tank more time. You probably added stuff before your tank finished it's cycle and now need to be patient. Keep doing your weekly 10% water changes. And eventually your bioload should even itself out since you aren't by any means overstocked. If in a month or 2 nothing changes then maybe explore vodka dosing or one of the other suggestions posted. There are many options no one right answer but several. It's just a matter of which one you want to do.

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[Volpone]

The problem here is you have several options to fixing this problem and you need to pick one the will fit into your schedule budget and personal preferences. I think that where you should start is getting some bacteria to boost start your pellets especially since you already invested in the pellets and give your tank more time. You probably added stuff before your tank finished it's cycle and now need to be patient. Keep doing your weekly 10% water changes. And eventually your bioload should even itself out since you aren't by any means overstocked. If in a month or 2 nothing changes then maybe explore vodka dosing or one of the other suggestions posted. There are many options no one right answer but several. It's just a matter of which one you want to do.

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Ok then how about to start vodka dosing while bio bellets running ??

 

[robbrouse]

Volpone if you are set on the vodka dosing then you might as well do it, but if the nitrates are a temp thing and regular maintenance on your tank will bring it down you need to keep an eye on the dosing or it sounds like to em you could overdose your tank.

I'm not one that's a fan of added anything to my tank unless there is no other way...

 

[gregoryleonard]

Are you chasing a number here? what visual symptoms is your tank displaying that would make you concerned with the test results? I skimmed through the thread, but did not see any stated symptoms except you believe you have high Nitrates because a (very un-reliable) test kit says you do? Are your corals looking bad? what corals (LPS, SPS, softies) are you trying to keep? what problems are the perceived high nitrates causing in your system? That's why I asked if you are chasing a number? need to know why you believe you need to fight this. What is your reef telling you (visually)? does anything appear un-healthy? I would get a Red-Sea pro low range nitrate test kit to know exactly what your actual reading is, but only after answering the other questions. Whatever you decide to do, Please take it slow. I have seen so many people trying to correct a perceived high reading issue (but nothing visually wrong with the environment) cause a more severe issue by doing something fast and end up in a worse spot than before they started.

 

[mrs.nanoreef]

Volpone if you are set on the vodka dosing then you might as well do it, but if the nitrates are a temp thing and regular maintenance on your tank will bring it down you need to keep an eye on the dosing or it sounds like to em you could overdose your tank.

I'm not one that's a fan of added anything to my tank unless there is no other way...

I agree

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[Volpone]

Not to hijack but have been interested in algae scrubbers. Any good DIY sites you can PM me?

I tried before six moth truf scrubber , too much maintenance , cleaning the plastic, algea stuck in the PVC , flow come slow , water wasting more , and the noisy .

 

[Volpone]

Are you chasing a number here? what visual symptoms is your tank displaying that would make you concerned with the test results? I skimmed through the thread, but did not see any stated symptoms except you believe you have high Nitrates because a (very un-reliable) test kit says you do? Are your corals looking bad? what corals (LPS, SPS, softies) are you trying to keep? what problems are the perceived high nitrates causing in your system? That's why I asked if you are chasing a number? need to know why you believe you need to fight this. What is your reef telling you (visually)? does anything appear un-healthy? I would get a Red-Sea pro low range nitrate test kit to know exactly what your actual reading is, but only after answering the other questions. Whatever you decide to do, Please take it slow. I have seen so many people trying to correct a perceived high reading issue (but nothing visually wrong with the environment) cause a more severe issue by doing something fast and end up in a worse spot than before they started.

Man U scared me now , I'm not hunting comments here , I have hair algea all over glass , I have softies and Lps coral , no sps , I get spike recently and I post that I had around 25 ppm and now more than 80 ppm .and I said I will buy new test kit and I order it and waiting the shipment .
Sorry if I disturb u , but looking for solution and try to collect it from more experiment person like u a and other mates who support me from the first .
Thx for ur understanding .

 

[mrs.nanoreef]

I don't think he was trying to scare you... I think his main point is choose one thing and stick with it for awhile. In this hobby you should take things slow. If nothing is dieing then you have time to fix it. Solving anything won't happen over night. It all takes time. If you don't have patience then this is the wrong hobby . With that said give what you have a chance to work. Biopellets are a form of carbon dosing and so I vodka. I am personally like him in the sense that I don't like putting something foreign into my tank like vodka. I think right now you should keep up with your maintenance until your new test kit comes in and you can test your water.

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[FishyPapa]

...choose one thing and stick with it for awhile. In this hobby you should take things slow. If nothing is dieing then you have time to fix it. Solving anything won't happen over night. It all takes time...

+1

Kids and saltwater tanks. All the teachers of patience one could need!

 

[Volpone]

I don't think he was trying to scare you... I think his main point is choose one thing and stick with it for awhile. In this hobby you should take things slow. If nothing is dieing then you have time to fix it. Solving anything won't happen over night. It all takes time. If you don't have patience then this is the wrong hobby . With that said give what you have a chance to work. Biopellets are a form of carbon dosing and so I vodka. I am personally like him in the sense that I don't like putting something foreign into my tank like vodka. I think right now you should keep up with your maintenance until your new test kit comes in and you can test your water.

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+1 thx

 

[3dpilot]

Any updates? have you started vodka dosing? I apologize if i missed it, but what kind of skimmer are you using.

 

[gregoryleonard]

No apologies needed. Just wanted to hear about the symptoms. Whatever method you decide to use, just take it slow.
When I reduced my Nitrates from 40 down to under 10 I lost several LPS and Zoas due to reducing them too fast. Any change (even if it's for the good) that is done too quickly is not good in a reef system. Just my humble opinion.

Man U scared me now , I'm not hunting comments here , I have hair algea all over glass , I have softies and Lps coral , no sps , I get spike recently and I post that I had around 25 ppm and now more than 80 ppm .and I said I will buy new test kit and I order it and waiting the shipment .
Sorry if I disturb u , but looking for solution and try to collect it from more experiment person like u a and other mates who support me from the first .
Thx for ur understanding .

 

[Volpone]

No apologies needed. Just wanted to hear about the symptoms. Whatever method you decide to use, just take it slow.
When I reduced my Nitrates from 40 down to under 10 I lost several LPS and Zoas due to reducing them too fast. Any change (even if it's for the good) that is done too quickly is not good in a reef system. Just my humble opinion.

And I know that very well , and I don't want to wait and lost all my coral because the high nitrate , I want to reduce it how it was before and then using method to drop more .
Thx for ur reply peace and happy reefing

 

[Pappy]

I will buy new one salifert tomorrow and will check then

Just following up on this as it has been suggested several times. How'd the new kit work?

 

[FL_Reefer]

Vodka is for drinking not for adding to your tank,lol. algea scrubbers.. To much of a pain. The nopox will bring things down gradually and you will ''shock'' anything and have any loss of life. This has gotten way out of hand for this topic! If I was new to the reef lifestyle and got all of these suggestions, I would give up from being so confused. Build up the important bacteria in your tank and things will work them selfs out over time. Nopox will do this for you just by adding a few ml of 1 thing everyday. Not doing this and doing that and maybe this will work and maybe you should try this... Way to confusing. I'm out on this topic and I'm sure it will work out for ya. Get the nopox and you will thank me in a few weeks. Not saying that everyone's suggestions are bad ones but like I said there are products being made now that make things way easier! Good luck my friend and I hope to hear you get this under control.

 

[Volpone]

Vodka is for drinking not for adding to your tank,lol. algea scrubbers.. To much of a pain. The nopox will bring things down gradually and you will ''shock'' anything and have any loss of life. This has gotten way out of hand for this topic! If I was new to the reef lifestyle and got all of these suggestions, I would give up from being so confused. Build up the important bacteria in your tank and things will work them selfs out over time. Nopox will do this for you just by adding a few ml of 1 thing everyday. Not doing this and doing that and maybe this will work and maybe you should try this... Way to confusing. I'm out on this topic and I'm sure it will work out for ya. Get the nopox and you will thank me in a few weeks. Not saying that everyone's suggestions are bad ones but like I said there are products being made now that make things way easier! Good luck my friend and I hope to hear you get this under control.

Thx mate