Nitrates >40 ppm

[jds61403]

My 75 + 20 gal sump has been finished cycling for a couple weeks but my nitrates are staying 40-80ppm according to my API kit. I did a 20% water change the first week and they came down but Is continuing 20% water changes weekly too aggressive? I'm running carbon in a canister filter, but don't have a skimmer yet. What is the best way to bring my nitrates down? Thanks in advance!

 

[ritter6788]

Get rid of the canister and add a skimmer. The skimmer will remove waste before it breaks down to nitrate.


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[Pappy]

50% wc will drop it significantly and wait 2 days and do it again and should be good.

 

[jds61403]

50% wc will drop it significantly and wait 2 days and do it again and should be good.

Thanks for your response. Is there concern that I'll remove too much of my biological filter with big frequent water changes? I feel that most of the good bacteria would be held in the rock and sand though, right?

 

[always reefin]

Eventually you will want to get to the root as to why the nitrates are so high. Water changes may only be a temp fix. You are correct bacteria doesn't live in the water column. However, when doing big water changes you need to be aware of water chemistry and how your water changes affect it

 

[jds61403]

Well I believe I am still trying to bring the nitrates down from the end of the tanks cycle, so if I can get them down I am hoping they'll stay there.

 

[always reefin]

what are your nitrites?

 

[always reefin]

Well I believe I am still trying to bring the nitrates down from the end of the tanks cycle, so if I can get them down I am hoping they'll stay there.

We all wish it was that easy...lol

 

[mike007]

I agree with previous posts. Get a good skimmer. Water cahnges will only temporary fix the problem . Do you have fish? If so be very care full about overfeeding. When a tank has high nitrates it is because the nutrient level is way too high and you need to find out where it is coming from. All you need is a good skimmer , good live cured rock , water movement and sandbed. If your rock is not cured rock you may have some die off also causing this problem.

 

[jds61403]

I do have 2 clowns however the nitrates were about at the same level and have not went up since I put them in. I'm being cautious about over feeding but it is tough to tell how much to feed. I have a big diatom bloom, 5 nassarius snails, about 15 hermits and an emerald crab. I will get a skimmer ASAP.

The 75 gal set-up I bought has a 40 gal oceanic trickle sump. I left the bioballs in and there are a ton of them. Would it be better to go ahead and remove them? I was under the impression that if they were going to keep nitrates up it wouldn't be for a while. Without bioballs it would only serve as increased water volume; it's design wouldn't really convert into a three stage refugium. I have a deep sand bed that began as dry/dead sand, and about 70 pounds of dry rock/15 pounds live from an established tank.

Thanks for your responses and help

 

[jds61403]

what are your nitrites?

Ammonia and Nitrites are 0

 

[always reefin]

bioballs probably will cause a problem eventually if they're not already. deep sandbed can too, need to keep clean

 

[always reefin]

Ammonia and Nitrites are 0

good, just wanted to make sure your cycle was complete

 

[jds61403]

Maybe I'll remove the bioballs and replace with macro algae.

 

[GHill762]

your bacteria are primarily in rock/sand.. not in the water column. people who run very small tanks do very large water changes.. some pico tanks even do 100% changes weekly.. you will be fine.

 

[jds61403]

your bacteria are primarily in rock/sand.. not in the water column. people who run very small tanks do very large water changes.. some pico tanks even do 100% changes weekly.. you will be fine.

That is good to know. I will do a couple big water changes and report back in case anyone is having similar questions.