Nitrates too high, what do you recommend?

[Miguel Negron]

NO3 test results
Salifert - above +25ppm (dark purple color)
Red Sea - above +5ppm (I didn’t bother to dilute the water since I know it’s really high, the color was dark)

20G Waterbox
Tested phosphates and their fine

What are the best recommendations for lowering my nitrates?

I just did a 4 gallon water change yesterday and dosed 1ml of NO-POX. Tested this morning and still high.

 

[Miller535]

Do you have sand? and if so, are you vacuuming it when you do your water change?

 

[Miguel Negron]

Do you have sand? and if so, are you vacuuming it when you do your water change?

I do have sand and I have been vacuuming the sand, especially in areas where algae was growing. But I’m looking at my sand now and it’s pretty white

 

[Miller535]

I do have sand and I have been vacuuming the sand, especially in areas where algae was growing. But I’m looking at my sand now and it’s pretty white

Well in that case the most immediate thing to do is water changes. Especially since it is only 20 gallons, I would do 5 gallons a day. Assuming you don't have anything dead anywhere, and you vacuum the sand each time, I would expect that it should drop 25% with each water change.

Also what is your feeding like? What are you feeding and how often. More times then not, this is where nutrients start running away on us. Even coral food and aminos affect this.

 

[HB AL]

Up the dose of nopox.

 

[Miguel Negron]

I was doing RedSea AB+ but before all this happen, my nitrates were bottomed out and my torches weren’t fluffly. I ended up having a spare bottle of No3 from fish of hex and I think the amount I put in increased the nitrates sky high (not doing that again). What if I did a water change of 50%, will that have any negative affect?

Well in that case the most immediate thing to do is water changes. Especially since it is only 20 gallons, I would do 5 gallons a day. Assuming you don't have anything dead anywhere, and you vacuum the sand each time, I would expect that it should drop 25% with each water change.

Also what is your feeding like? What are you feeding and how often. More times then not, this is where nutrients start running away on us. Even coral food and aminos affect this.

 

[Miguel Negron]

Up the dose of nopox.

Do you think I should try doing a bigger WC before continuing to do NOPOX? I’m just afraid I hear dosing NOPOX really strips away beneficial bacteria and can cause negative affects towards corals.

 

[Miller535]

I was doing RedSea AB+ but before all this happen, my nitrates were bottomed out and my torches weren’t fluffly. I ended up having a spare bottle of No3 from fish of hex and I think the amount I put in increased the nitrates sky high (not doing that again). What if I did a water change of 50%, will that have any negative affect?

It shouldn't have any negative affect as long as you water change water is close to your tank water. Meaning you alk and cal and ph

 

[Miguel Negron]

It shouldn't have any negative affect as long as you water change water is close to your tank water. Meaning you alk and cal and ph

Thank you for the information!

 

[Silent]

Here is a read for you.

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION

Nitrate is an ion that has long dogged aquarists. It is typically formed in aquaria through the digestion of foods, and in many aquaria it builds up and can be difficult to keep at natural levels. In the past, many aquarists performed water changes with nitrate reduction as one of the primary...

www.reefedition.com

 

[HB AL]

Well just a little background on my system. I haven't done a water change in 4 years+. I have 15 fish and lots of corals. Ive been dosing 10 to 20ml of nopox daily the last 4+ years with no ill effects. So the nopox does not cause any detrimental effects on beneficial bacteria or corals of all kinds. You could do the water change but if you spend some time dialing in the amount of nopox you dose daily it will solve your issue most likely. Heres a pic of my tank so you can see that nopox does not harm a thing, by the way my fish get fed 12 cubes of Hikari a day.

 

[Miguel Negron]

Here is a read for you.

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION

Nitrate is an ion that has long dogged aquarists. It is typically formed in aquaria through the digestion of foods, and in many aquaria it builds up and can be difficult to keep at natural levels. In the past, many aquarists performed water changes with nitrate reduction as one of the primary...

www.reefedition.com

Thank you!

 

[Miguel Negron]

Thank you! They say to dose below the recommendations but with higher nitrates similar to what I have, should I increase the dosage?

Well just a little background on my system. I haven't done a water change in 4 years+. I have 15 fish and lots of corals. Ive been dosing 10 to 20ml of nopox daily the last 4+ years with no ill effects. So the nopox does not cause any detrimental effects on beneficial bacteria or corals of all kinds. You could do the water change but if you spend some time dialing in the amount of nopox you dose daily it will solve your issue most likely. Heres a pic of my tank so you can see that nopox does not harm a thing, by the way my fish get fed 12 cubes of Hikari a day.

 

[HB AL]

I would if the current dose isn't doing it. Worst case if you add to much you will have a little cloudy water for a day or so. The nopox itself is not going to kill anything in your tank.

 

[Miguel Negron]

I would if the current dose isn't doing it. Worst case if you add to much you will have a little cloudy water for a day or so. The nopox itself is not going to kill anything in your tank.

Imma give that a try, thanks!

 

[Miguel Negron]

I would if the current dose isn't doing it. Worst case if you add to much you will have a little cloudy water for a day or so. The nopox itself is not going to kill anything in your tank.

I have a question, should I remove my carbon (chemi pure blue) before dosing or that won’t strip the liquid?

 

[Pntbll687]

Easiest thing is going to be multiple water changes.

With only 20g tank, you could do a 5g water change every day until you get close to the goal level of nitrates, then start slowly upping the dos of nopox

 

[Pntbll687]

any pics of the tank?

 

[Miguel Negron]

any pics of the tank?

This was right before things started shrinking up

 

[Pntbll687]

This was right before things started shrinking up

How old is the system?