Nitrates will not go down 3M tank

[cpalminteri]

I can’t for the life of me lower my nitrates! Ammonia cycles properly I see it big .2 and next day 0. Same for Nitrites will reach .2 and next day 0 but my Nitrate will not go down. I’ve done water changes, used prime, rodi water is 0, have a protein skimmer as I’m sure I over feed as a noob. Not sure what else do to??

 

[Gungo]

Nitrates is the end result of the nitrogen cycle. How old is your tank? Nitrate reading? Test kit?

 

[Glenner’sreef]

If your numbers are between 0-40 those are manageable. They’re nontoxic.

 

[cpalminteri]

Nitrates is the end result of the nitrogen cycle. How old is your tank? Nitrate reading? Test kit?

3 months old, Red Sea kit and about 50 ppm

If your numbers are between 0-40 those are manageable. They’re nontoxic.

id say it’s between 20-50 closer to 50. Red Sea kit jumps from 20 to 50 on the color scale. I’m just trying to figure out how to get it to go down a little it’s never been lower.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

3 months old, Red Sea kit and about 50 ppm

id say it’s between 20-50 closer to 50. Red Sea kit jumps from 20 to 50 on the color scale. I’m just trying to figure out how to get it to go down a little it’s never been lower.

You said “you over feed as a noob” it could be that simple. There is a happy spot where we are starving our fish or polluting our tanks. Make this a little science project. Find that spot, test and go with that.

 

[Spare time]

You have to do a larger water change to get it down. There are other ways to get it down too (refugium, carbon dosing with a skimmer, etc.).

 

[Spare time]

How frequent and how large are the water changes?

 

[cpalminteri]

Very true. Will def work on that

 

[cpalminteri]

You have to do a larger water change to get it down. There are other ways to get it down too (refugium, carbon dosing with a skimmer, etc.).

Can you describe carbon dosing with a skimmer? I have a skimmer

 

[cpalminteri]

How frequent and how large are the water changes?

Once a week at least and about 10-15%. It’s still a newer tank (3 months) so I don’t want to go crazy with the water changes either

 

[Spare time]

Can you describe carbon dosing with a skimmer? I have a skimmer

Basically you use something such as nopox, vinegar, vodka, etc. to add a carbon source that bacteria can use to grow. They use this, nitrate, and phosphate in the tank to build their biomass. Following this, the skimmer removes them from the water, along with the carbon, nitrate, and phosphate used to make their bodies. This removes far more nitrate than phosphate, and also requires the skimmer to be performing well to avoid bacterial blooms.

 

[Spare time]

Once a week at least and about 10-15%. It’s still a newer tank (3 months) so I don’t want to go crazy with the water changes either

That might not be large enough depending on how many fish, the size of the tank, etc. Do you have a sump? If so, is there room for a refugium by any chance

 

[ReefGeezer]

Once a week at least and about 10-15%. It’s still a newer tank (3 months) so I don’t want to go crazy with the water changes either

In order to reduce nitrates, larger water changes are needed. A 50% change reduces nitrates by half. If your tank is not too big, a couple 50% water changes are the best way to get nitrates down after driving them up during a cycle. If your nitrates are 40 now, they'll be in the 10 range after two 50% water changes. From there, it is possible that the system you already have can keep them low enough.

Don't be in a hurry to start dumping chemicals into your tank.

 

[cpalminteri]

That might not be large enough depending on how many fish, the size of the tank, etc. Do you have a sump? If so, is there room for a refugium by any chance

That might not be large enough depending on how many fish, the size of the tank, etc. Do you have a sump? If so, is there room for a refugium by any chance

No sump, evo 13.5 but yeah I do have a lot of fish and coral so it’s prob not keeping up. I’m starting a refugium this week in media compartment 2. Some chaeto and copepods. Should I had a separate refugium that’ll be larger or start with this smaller one and see how it goes?

 

[cpalminteri]

In order to reduce nitrates, larger water changes are needed. A 50% change reduces nitrates by half. If your tank is not too big, a couple 50% water changes are the best way to get nitrates down after driving them up during a cycle. If your nitrates are 40 now, they'll be in the 10 range after two 50% water changes. From there, it is possible that the system you already have can keep them low enough.

Don't be in a hurry to start dumping chemicals into your tank.

Very true. I guess I’m just nervous that a 50% water change will affect my critters or do some damage. Never done that big a water change and the tank is still fairly new. No big deal?

 

[Spare time]

No sump, evo 13.5 but yeah I do have a lot of fish and coral so it’s prob not keeping up. I’m starting a refugium this week in media compartment 2. Some chaeto and copepods. Should I had a separate refugium that’ll be larger or start with this smaller one and see how it goes?

Ah ok cool. Go ahead and try the chaeto and see how it works. Yeah I don't think 10% water change would be enough so this should help. Do you know what light you are using for the macroalgae?

 

[ReefGeezer]

Very true. I guess I’m just nervous that a 50% water change will affect my critters or do some damage. Never done that big a water change and the tank is still fairly new. No big deal?

No big deal if you match temperature and salinity. Doesn't have to be perfect, only close.

 

[cpalminteri]

Ah ok cool. Go ahead and try the chaeto and see how it works. Yeah I don't think 10% water change would be enough so this should help. Do you know what light you are using for the macroalgae?

 

[cpalminteri]

No big deal if you match temperature and salinity. Doesn't have to be perfect, only close.

Will do! Also my salinity is at 1.022 I’m going to try to get it to 1.025 for my corals so that would be good

 

[ReefGeezer]

Will do! Also my salinity is at 1.022 I’m going to try to get it to 1.025 for my corals so that would be good

Good to raise it to 1.025. Don't raise it with the big water changes. Top off with salt water for a while until the salinity is where you want it before doing the water changes.