Nitrates problem,help me out

[Dashing.dayaa]

Hello guys hope you all are doing good,
here i am again with my another major problem
Tank size 125g
Fishes 10
Live rocks 100p
No corAls as of now
Sump
Refugium(running with small pieces of live rocks and already ordered a ball of chaeto algae.as of now no chaeto in refugium)
Bubble magus skimmer
4 wavemakers
Nice heater
80p crushed corals for bottom of tank
These are my tank information.so now the problem is yesterday 1 chromis fish died i noticed a red spot on fish but next day when i woke up he was dead.
I am new to hobby dont kbow much about saltwater but know all the basics
My cousin checked my nitrates level of tank and its very high and thats my main problem.i am using tap water for now because dont have budget now to buy a rodi filtration system but will do it later.i feed my fishes twice a day(mysis shrimps cube and algae paper food).i read on different forums that adding a salt will fix the issue but i dont wanna take any risk.kindly help me out because once my nitrate levels will be good,i have to add corals too.i know if i add now they will die and even its harm for fishes too and i have 10 now so lil worried.ill really appreciate for your help,Thanks

 

[drernesto Verified Sponsor]

Water changes and dosing some kind of carbon (vodka or biopellets reactor) would help. How high is your nitrates?

 

[cb684]

As drernesto said above, there are different ways you can fix this, and you can choose one, or a combination.
Differences between each of the possibilities include price, effectiveness, how much of your attention they require, and how much stability they produce.

Some of the possible ways to deal with it:
1. Water changes.
2. Carbon dosing (vinegar, vodka, biopellets, NOPOX, ZeoStart, etc..)
3. Refugium with macroalgae
4. Algae scrubber
5. Nitrate reactor
6. Deep sand bed or possibly adding large very porous rocks (natural or manmade)

Some of those will help to control phosphates too. My advice is to take some time and read about each of the methods before deciding...

IMO it should be high on your list to have good tests for Alkalinity, Calcium, Nitrates, Phosphates and Magnesium and test these parameters frequently. If you decide to add stone corals I would test Alkalinity very frequently, and the others once a week. If only soft corals or no corals I would test them once a week.

Having a good source of water for auto top off and water changes is likely very important (unless you are one of the few lucky ones that have a really good tap water, in that case you would still need to make sure you dechlorinate it). You can buy water from somebody that own a RODI system or buy a system.

Good luck!

CB

 

[mcarroll]

First, you need to test your tap water to see how much nitrates are in it - you may be fighting an uphill battle.

If the tap water is OK, then it sounds like you may be over-feeding and your tank may also be overstocked. Can you post a tank pic as well as a stock list?

Feeding frequently is not the problem, it's the volume.

It also sounds like you may not be maintaining the tank - are you doing anything for detritus removal or water changes? You should be doing 20-30% per week until the nitrates are under control. At least 10% weekly after that. You should do some targeted siphoning of detritus during water changes as well.

 

[cmcoker]

Since you said you noticed a red spot on the chromis, how long had the chromis been in the tank? Was it quarantined?

Red spot, chromis, followed by death raises a red flag for uronema marinum for me...

 

[Ashley L]

Hello guys hope you all are doing good,
here i am again with my another major problem
Tank size 125g
Fishes 10
Live rocks 100p
No corAls as of now
Sump
Refugium(running with small pieces of live rocks and already ordered a ball of chaeto algae.as of now no chaeto in refugium)
Bubble magus skimmer
4 wavemakers
Nice heater
80p crushed corals for bottom of tank
These are my tank information.so now the problem is yesterday 1 chromis fish died i noticed a red spot on fish but next day when i woke up he was dead.
I am new to hobby dont kbow much about saltwater but know all the basics
My cousin checked my nitrates level of tank and its very high and thats my main problem.i am using tap water for now because dont have budget now to buy a rodi filtration system but will do it later.i feed my fishes twice a day(mysis shrimps cube and algae paper food).i read on different forums that adding a salt will fix the issue but i dont wanna take any risk.kindly help me out because once my nitrate levels will be good,i have to add corals too.i know if i add now they will die and even its harm for fishes too and i have 10 now so lil worried.ill really appreciate for your help,Thanks

I had a similar problem with my 110gal. My nitrates got out of control. What worked for me was to do a big water change, I'm talking 40%... I wouldn't do more or you may risk putting your tank into another cycling period. Then begin carbon dosing the tank every day. I gave mine 2 tsp of plain white table sugar every day for two weeks and mine were back down to normal. You will still need to find the source of the nitrates though and check them regularly with a good test kit. Good luck!
And yes, do not add corals while your nitrates are up. It will be a total waste and kill the coral.. Also, when you feed your fish mysis make sure to let them thaw in a cup of tank water first and strain the shrimp through a net or drain all the water before adding it to your tank. This alone will help your problem tremendously. Your fish don't actually need mysis every day, I give mine shrimp 2-3x a week. Aside from that, a good pellet food is good and shouldn't raise your nitrates near as much. Also watch out and don't feed more than your fish will eat in a couple of minutes. Excess food will turn right into a nitrate spike. I hope this helps! I tried everything and this works best for me. Also, make sure you have a good skimmer. It will pull a lot more junk from the tank while carbon dosing.

 

[Dashing.dayaa]

Oh thanks Alot.ill definitely consider your suggestion.

 

[Dashing.dayaa]

Water changes and dosing some kind of carbon (vodka or biopellets reactor) would help. How high is your nitrates?

To be honest with you i am new to hobby but soneone check my tank nitrates and told me that that way too high

 

[Dashing.dayaa]

As drernesto said above, there are different ways you can fix this, and you can choose one, or a combination.
Differences between each of the possibilities include price, effectiveness, how much of your attention they require, and how much stability they produce.

Some of the possible ways to deal with it:
1. Water changes.
2. Carbon dosing (vinegar, vodka, biopellets, NOPOX, ZeoStart, etc..)
3. Refugium with macroalgae
4. Algae scrubber
5. Nitrate reactor
6. Deep sand bed or possibly adding large very porous rocks (natural or manmade)

Some of those will help to control phosphates too. My advice is to take some time and read about each of the methods before deciding...

IMO it should be high on your list to have good tests for Alkalinity, Calcium, Nitrates, Phosphates and Magnesium and test these parameters frequently. If you decide to add stone corals I would test Alkalinity very frequently, and the others once a week. If only soft corals or no corals I would test them once a week.

Having a good source of water for auto top off and water changes is likely very important (unless you are one of the few lucky ones that have a really good tap water, in that case you would still need to make sure you dechlorinate it). You can buy water from somebody that own a RODI system or buy a system.

Good luck!

CB

I am using tap water thats a main part of problem too but dont have budget now to buy a rodi system

 

[Dashing.dayaa]

First, you need to test your tap water to see how much nitrates are in it - you may be fighting an uphill battle.

If the tap water is OK, then it sounds like you may be over-feeding and your tank may also be overstocked. Can you post a tank pic as well as a stock list?

Feeding frequently is not the problem, it's the volume.

It also sounds like you may not be maintaining the tank - are you doing anything for detritus removal or water changes? You should be doing 20-30% per week until the nitrates are under control. At least 10% weekly after that. You should do some targeted siphoning of detritus during water changes as well.

Yeah i am doing the water change 15% weekly basis

 

[Dashing.dayaa]

Since you said you noticed a red spot on the chromis, how long had the chromis been in the tank? Was it quarantined?

Red spot, chromis, followed by death raises a red flag for uronema marinum for me...

I bought chromis from store and after 3-4 days i noticed red spot and next day i see him dead but my other Chromis are doing good.i dont know its my tank problem or there was a problem with a fish i bought from store

 

[dacianb]

Red spots on fishes may be parasites (will see if other fishes will be affected or not in next days), but also injuries badly enough to cause internal bleedings, and of course death.
Nitrates doesnt kill a chromis - they are very hardy fishes.
Try to not use anymore tap water (it is terrible in so many cities). Easy fix way and cheap is to start using distilled water - may work for now and no investments needed. Or buy a cheap and small RO unit. On longer term, distilled water is more expensive than a small ro unit. I am using a 50 USD unit which can produce something like a gallon in almost an hour, but is all I need.
I have a bubble magus skimmer as well and no charbons, reactors or any other bells on tank.
Ro water + Nopox and have NO3 in range of 0-0.50 - I target 0.25, but sometimes swings a bit.
Ah, your own test kit would be also nice to have. Specially if you start dosing nopox or something else, will have to test often and adjust the dosing.

I have a tank 50% smaller than yours, 13 fishes and never rinse frozen food or anything. Just drop in tank - that "juice" is great for corals

 

[Dashing.dayaa]

Oh ok i gave them a cube of shrimp daily basis because they love them

 

[Dashing.dayaa]

Ill find a ro unit soon

 

[Salty1962]

Tap water is bad for nitrates, as mentioned get a rodi very soon or go to your local fish store and get some. Is your skimmer functioning properly? If so, it should be pulling nitrates from your tank but if your adding more than it can take out, you won't see a change. JMO