Nitrates stuck at 20-25 PPM

[Jrswish]

I started up a new tank, its about 1.5 months old and fully cycled. After I finished cycling I did a 75% water change, my nitrates wont drop below 20-25PPM. I've done 3 40% water changes since and nitrates don't seem to wanna move down at all.I have 2 clowns and 1 yasha goby, it makes zero sense! It's a 20 nuvo. I'm not overfeeding at all either. My rodi water comes out as 0 nitrates so its not my water. I'm using salifert but the api test also shows the same numbers so its not a testing issue. Not sure what to do really. I cycled with dry rock

 

[Doctorgori]

how do things look?
…. 25ppm nitrate is pretty far from lethal, not sure it’s even detrimental..
…I wouldn’t waste anymore effort worrying about it

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What kind of filter are you using? A canister or hob? When is the last time you cleaned it?

 

[Jrswish]

Its a nuvo 20 aio. 1.5 months old freshly cycled everything looks good tho

 

[Unknownfray]

In my opinion if the flow is not circulating around the tank my thought is that nitrogen gases are trapped in the sand (if your using a sand bed) and not releasing to the surface. So its keeping it there. Its just a thought that came to mind.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

In my opinion if the flow is not circulating around the tank my thought is that nitrogen gases are trapped in the sand (if your using a sand bed) and not releasing to the surface. So its keeping it there. Its just a thought that came to mind.

Why would N2 in the sand cause this issue?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I started up a new tank, its about 1.5 months old and fully cycled. After I finished cycling I did a 75% water change, my nitrates wont drop below 20-25PPM. I've done 3 40% water changes since and nitrates don't seem to wanna move down at all.I have 2 clowns and 1 yasha goby, it makes zero sense! It's a 20 nuvo. I'm not overfeeding at all either. My rodi water comes out as 0 nitrates so its not my water. I'm using salifert but the api test also shows the same numbers so its not a testing issue. Not sure what to do really. I cycled with dry rock

I would not assume there is any big problem. I’d stop doing large water changes and just monitor for a bit, then if you still want to drop nitrate, either grow macroalgae or turf algae, or dose organic carbon.

 

[Unknownfray]

Why would N2 in the sand cause this issue?

Perhaps its getting stirred up when its siphoned out? Or when the water goes in its stirring the sand bed up releasing excess gas that hasnt been released because of the flow being weak. Thats what i can think of. Or the filtration isnt preforming properly? Would love to hear your feedback!

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

Do you have any corals? They'll suck some of those nitrates up.

 

[PopBot16]

Do another large WC, like 80%+, then test the next day.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Perhaps its getting stirred up when its siphoned out? Or when the water goes in its stirring the sand bed up releasing excess gas that hasnt been released because of the flow being weak. Thats what i can think of. Or the filtration isnt preforming properly? Would love to hear your feedback!

We are taking about N2? The water is always already saturated with N2 from the air and extra N2 isn’t going to impact any tank chemistry.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do another large WC, like 80%+, then test the next day.

For what purpose?

 

[Unknownfray]

We are taking about N2? The water is always already saturated with N2 from the air and extra N2 isn’t going to impact any tank chemistry.

Good point. Do you utilize a turf algae refugium?

 

[bossman818]

Nothing to worry about. I would leave it alone. Your tank is still new so all kinds of number will be weird. Don’t Chase numbers. Keep up with your weekly water changes without fail and everything will be ok.

 

[SeanGreen1]

I wouldn’t even bother worrying about 20-25 nitrates just let the tank mature. You should only worry or try to lower them if they get extremely high! That’s the problem with this hobby you ask a question you’ll get ten people telling you to do something to fix it. The best thing you can do with your tank is to give it time and don’t do anything unless you see it’s affecting the animals in the tank if you keep on trying to remove it or lower it you’re going to starve the water of the vital nutrients it needs to thrive my friend.

 

[PotatoPig]

That level of nitrates are fine for almost anything you might put in the tank, especially if you’re fish only for now. Even most corals would be happy in there unless you start to get into the more sensitive SPS corals.

Even nitrates at twice that would be fine for the fish and wouldn’t be all that bad for a lot of soft and LPS corals, only issue you might see is algae growth if your herbivores can’t keep up.

 

[exnisstech]

Nothing to worry about. I would leave it alone. Your tank is still new so all kinds of number will be weird. Don’t Chase numbers. Keep up with your weekly water changes without fail and everything will be ok.

I wouldn’t even bother worrying about 20-25 nitrates just let the tank mature. You should only worry or try to lower them if they get extremely high! That’s the problem with this hobby you ask a question you’ll get ten people telling you to do something to fix it. The best thing you can do with your tank is to give it time and don’t do anything unless you see it’s affecting the animals in the tank if you keep on trying to remove it or lower it you’re going to starve the water of the vital nutrients it needs to thrive my friend.

Agreed. I think one of the first mistakes people make with a new system is getting caught up trying to obtain a certain number. Then problems are created trying to fix something that wasn't broken to begin with. I have 3 systems running all with different levels of N and P with coral doing fine in all.

 

[capNemo]

I agree with those that have mentioned you shouldn’t chase a number and be hasty in making changes. That said, make sure your AIO is setup for optimal flow as addressed in the WWC video as follows: .

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Good point. Do you utilize a turf algae refugium?

I used a large macroalgae refugium, but then decided the electricity wasn’t worth it, and reduced it significantly in size and began organic carbon dosing.

 

[Unknownfray]

I used a large macroalgae refugium, but then decided the electricity wasn’t worth it, and reduced it significantly in size and began organic carbon dosing.

Carbon dosing with vodka or vinegar?