Nitrates in reef tank?

[Fin-up reefing]

So my nitrates for the past year or so have been reading at 160 ppm.. I use the API test kit and I've bought several new test bottles for my nitrates to see if anything is different, I run a protein skimmer rated for a 300 gallon, live rock, assorted filter media and I have a clean up crew for my tank size and in my sump. I've done several water changes and feed lightly. The odd thing is that my water is clear as can be, my sand bed is white, no algae blooms, my fish are healthy, and my coral looks great. Anyone have any clue what's up? Am I doing something wrong?

 

[Katrina71]

I've seen a few tanks on here with the same crazy numbers. Imo, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Btw, their tanks were healthy and clear like yours too.

 

[Katrina71]

Is it possible your corals are consuming it so quickly that it isn't an issue?

 

[Fin-up reefing]

Is it possible your corals are consuming it so quickly that it isn't an issue?

That is possible, I mean my nems are big and healthy and all my SPS looks great, I even have some neon green branching hydnophora that is doing great and I've heard they can be difficult. It's really odd.

 

[link81]

whats your phosphate level?
160 seems pretty crazy high, but your tank does look really good! way better then mine, lol

 

[ca1ore]

If the corals were consuming it you wouldn’t be getting a 160 reading. Do you know what your phosphate levels are? I tend to be of the view that nitrates aren’t particularly problematic. How is the coral growth rate? If it’s ok and everything looks good then nothing to do urgently. You could try exporting via an ATS.

 

[Fin-up reefing]

whats your phosphate level?
160 seems pretty crazy high, but your tank does look really good! way better then mine, lol

My phosphate levels are .25 ish

 

[Fin-up reefing]

If the corals were consuming it you wouldn’t be getting a 160 reading. Do you know what your phosphate levels are? I tend to be of the view that nitrates aren’t particularly problematic. How is the coral growth rate? If it’s ok and everything looks good then nothing to do urgently. You could try exporting via an ATS.

.25 ish

 

[Fin-up reefing]

If the corals were consuming it you wouldn’t be getting a 160 reading. Do you know what your phosphate levels are? I tend to be of the view that nitrates aren’t particularly problematic. How is the coral growth rate? If it’s ok and everything looks good then nothing to do urgently. You could try exporting via an ATS.

Growth on my softies is great, on my SPS and LPS it's slower but they do grow

 

[link81]

whatever works! your tank looks awesome.!

 

[Fin-up reefing]

whatever works! your tank looks awesome.!

Thank you!

 

[Ike]

What skimmer are you using? Ratings are often pretty wrong. You could probably benefit from a better/larger skimmer and getting nitrates down some and see better growth and color, but if you're happy with how everything looks don't sweat it. Also, the API nitrate kits read often read high, so you're probably not quite actually at 160.

 

[Boops]

Strange, your tank does not seem to be overpopulated (fish). However, nice tank.

 

[Sailfinguy21]

You shaking the bottles for 30 seconds before you use em and shaking the test kit for 60 seconds ?

I find it hard to believe its at 160.. fish would get nitrate poisoning aka brown blood and die from nitrates that high

 

[glennf]

What tests are you using?
Some tests get it all wrong.

 

[Ike]

You shaking the bottles for 30 seconds before you use em and shaking the test kit for 60 seconds ?

I find it hard to believe its at 160.. fish would get nitrate poisoning aka brown blood and die from nitrates that high

I don't now where you got this info, but no, they wouldn't.

 

[Lorenzo Angotti]

Hi, lovely tank, yes I’ve been battling with high Nitrates and phosphates from day one, mine have been up to 80 ppm just tested them today with, API and also with the Salifert testers. It’s 3 years now that I am in this hobby, my water like yours as always been clear even when doing a bi weekly change, longest a month and the water is as clear as the fresh mix I put in. My nitrite and Ammonia never been above 0, I’m puzzled because if I was over feeding my fish surely the ammonia would be above 0, could it be when I feed my corals, does that increase Nitrates! Also I rinse frozen food with RO water to reduce Nitrates, maybe I will do a bit of research into what coral foods don’t add Nitrates to my water. My corals on the majority are doing fine Lps slow growing but ok, my Zoa’s use to always disappear but now for the first time I’m having success, don’t know what’s changed but are growing and happy.
Now besides my Nitrates, phosphates have had readings as high as 20 ppm have no issues with any form of green algae on my rocks, they are clean and only have Caroline algae on them. I do get a little diatoms on my Caribsea Fiji sand bed, mainly at the front of my tank. I have just installed a phosphate reactor in my sump hoping that this would help, crossed fingers.

 

[Belgian Anthias]

Nice tank! Why change things?
The nitrate level is stable at 160ppm for over a year? Er has the nitrate level build up to 160ppm over a years time?
Nitrate is safely stored nitrogen available for to be used when needed. As most nitrate-nitrogen is not consumed other factors are limiting growth and a balance is found .
160 ppm is a lot but is there any reason to reduce the Nitrate-nitrogen level? Alkalinity is ok and pH is easily controlled!?
If Nitrate-nitrogen is used as a nitrogen source instead of ammonium-nitrogen growth rates slow down.
One may increase the nitrate-nitrogen consumption by reducing the ammonium-nitrogen availability in the display by installing a bio-filter. One may remove nitrate-nitrogen, considered superfluous and surplus, by improving the denitrification capacity, by installing a bio-filter. One may combine both, stimulating simultaneous nitrification and denitrification, by installing a bio-filter.

 

[Lasse]

You shaking the bottles for 30 seconds before you use em and shaking the test kit for 60 seconds ?

I find it hard to believe its at 160.. fish would get nitrate poisoning aka brown blood and die from nitrates that high

Nope - brown blood disease is caused by high levels of nitrite (NO2) in freshwater tanks with low chloride readings. In saltwater - uptake of the NO2 ion through the gills is blocked by the high content of chlorids and not even nitrite cause brown blood disease in saltwater tanks


Sincerely Lasse

 

[Paul Ketchum]

Had the same issue for years, my softies did fine, with nothing else ever surviving and no amount of filtration helped. If you feel strongly about reducing nitrate, try carbon dosing. Start SLOWLY as per the instructions.