Nitrate saga

[jpontier212]

I also tested my Water from the glacier machine and it had 0 ammonia 0 nitrite and 0 nitrates, so I'm confused

 

[cmcoker]

From your original post, the nitrates did drop with the third water change. If the glacier water is all zeros, then it should be fine to use for more water changes. With a young tank I would just do water changes to get the nitrates down and let your tank mature without dosing vodka. It will take time for the tank to mature.

Just check that your water source is good each time you get more water.

 

[Lynn52]

If you could increase the amount of water you change each week it will help lower the nitrates. You need to remove more nitrate with the water change than the system produces between water changes to start decreasing the levels. The levels in my 40 got to be over 100 at a time when for medical reasons I couldn't do my normal maintenance. It took me several months to get them down to 5 which is where they were yesterday. I got frustrated with 20% water changes every week only dropping them a little bit and switched to 50% for about 4 weeks and that did the trick. My 125 has had the same issue but the cure is much slower. I don't have the capacity to do 50% water changes on that tank. They are steadily falling with 30 gallon wc per week. Around 25 ppm now compared to more than the max my test would read (>100ppm).

 

[jpontier212]

If you could increase the amount of water you change each week it will help lower the nitrates. You need to remove more nitrate with the water change than the system produces between water changes to start decreasing the levels. The levels in my 40 got to be over 100 at a time when for medical reasons I couldn't do my normal maintenance. It took me several months to get them down to 5 which is where they were yesterday. I got frustrated with 20% water changes every week only dropping them a little bit and switched to 50% for about 4 weeks and that did the trick. My 125 has had the same issue but the cure is much slower. I don't have the capacity to do 50% water changes on that tank. They are steadily falling with 30 gallon wc per week. Around 25 ppm now compared to more than the max my test would read (>100ppm).

Thanks Lynn52. I appreciate it. It's difficult to stay optimistic when you got a 5 year old asking everyday can we get a Nemo today? Lol

 

[Lynn52]

With nitrates of 50 in a 55, one 25 gallon water change should drop them in half and you should be set for Nemo just remember you can never have Dory in that tank, it is way too small. In reality you should be fine at 50 ppm for fish. I didn't have any issues with fish or LPS coral until they went above 100.

 

[Lonny]

Thanks Lynn52. I appreciate it. It's difficult to stay optimistic when you got a 5 year old asking everyday can we get a Nemo today? Lol

I hear that! My kids always want something new in the tank and it's always fish, they don't get the let the tank catch up concept lol. I believe in curing the rock just to make sure anything that might leach out does before it goes in the tank. I used pukani and cured it for six weeks. I have a 130gl tank with sump. Since my tank cycled I have zero nitrates. There are 5 fish and fifteen corals as of now. I do 10% water change every week. My tank cycled in four weeks three days. Basically what I'm saying is my rock was in water for ten weeks. You started this post in week nine. Just be patient it will settle down and become stable. Oh and if your not already, keep your lights off until things mellow out so you don't get an algae bloom! It won't be much longer and we'll all be looking at pics of your new fish and corals! hang in there man